ABOUT
Alex Garcia Mallarini is an American-Uruguayan director, screenwriter, and film producer. He is best known for The Female Side Effect (2023), a dark, socially charged thriller critiquing pharmaceutical companies and the systemic lack of research on women’s health. The film received seven awards, including three Best Director honors at AIMAFF (Athens), BIA (Barcelona) and VIZ film fest.
Driven by a desire to challenge conventional storytelling, Garcia Mallarini’s work is known for its gritty, bold style—often blending with raw, emotional human experiences. He refers to this approach as “creating beautiful chaos.”
His other work as a director and writer includes Melody of a Sorrow Heart (2022), Fuera de Nuestro Control (2021), and A Traveler’s Guide to Happiness (2021), for which he won Best Male Director at the Atlantic Bridge Festival.
He has also directed a range of commercials and music videos for Lux Mala, Cholas X Chulas, Once, Brujas, Skydive Puerto Rico and Tourism of Ibiza.
Alex currently lives in Barcelona, where he is working on his debut feature.
CONTACT
MANAGER
BORTIZ@MADMANCREATIVELAB.COM
PERSONAL
ALEXGARCIAMALLARINI@GMAIL.COM
RECOGNITION
(FILM)
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - BARCELONA INDIE AWARDS 2024 - WINNER BEST MALE DIRECTOR
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - AIMAFF 2024 - WINNER BEST DIRECTING
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - VIZ FILM FEST 2024 - WINNER BEST DIRECTOR
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - VIZ FILM FEST 2024 - WINNER BEST SHORT
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - VIZ FILM FEST 2024 - WINNER BEST SOUND DESIGN
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - JAPAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 - WINNER BEST SHORT FILM
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - ROMA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2024 - WINNER BEST PRODUCTION
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - FLICKERS RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 (BAFTA QUALIFYING) - SEMI FINALIST
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - BARCIFF 2024 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - REC 2024 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘THE FEMALE SIDE EFFECT’ - EVOLUTION MALLORCA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘FUERA DE NUESTRO CONTROL’ - ARFF BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST 2022 - BEST SHORT FILM HONORABLE MENTION
‘MELODY OF A SORROW HEART’ - PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILM FESTIVAL 2022- OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘MELODY OF A SORROW HEART’ - VENICE SHORTS 2022 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - FILM ARTS AND HEARTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST 2022 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘FUERA DE NUESTRO CONTROL’ - NEW YORK SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021 (CANADIAN SCREEN AWARD QUALIFYING) - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - ATLANTIC BRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL 2021 - BEST MALE DIRECTOR
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021 - SEMI FINALIST
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - AMSTERDAM LIFT OFF FILM FEST 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - BARCIFF BARCELONA 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - MADRID INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - BERLIN LIFT OFF FILM FEST 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - VENICE SHORTS 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - BUEIFF CHANNEL 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - PARIS LIFT OFF FILM FEST 2021 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - CHICAGO INDIE AWARDS 2020 - SEMI FINALIST
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - CANNES INDIE SHORTS AWARDS 2020 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
‘A TRAVELERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS’ - LONDON LIFT OFF FILM FEST 2020 - OFFICIAL SELECTION
(COMMERCIAL + OTHER)
BARCIFF BARCELONA 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE
BARCIFF BARCELONA 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - OFFICIAL SELECTION
EUROPE MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - OFFICIAL SELECTION BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
MADRIFF MADRID 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE
MADRIFF MADRID 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - OFFICIAL SELECTION
MADRID FILM AWARDS PREMIO ERCOLALO 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - OFFICIAL SELECTION
LISBIFF LISBOA 2025 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - OFFICIAL SELECTION
ROBINSON FILM AWARDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 - LUX MALA ‘CATACUMBA’ - SEMI FINALIST