Born and Raised in Mexico City, Mexico

Studied medicine before switching to dance and drama

Worked as a professional classical dancer

Toured for four years in a one-man pantomime show

Feature directing debut, "The Bearfoot Eagle"

Feature acting debut, Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch"

Wrote, directed, produced and acted in "Calzonzin Inspector"

Directed and produced the art-house hit "Like Water for Chocolate", adopted by his wife Lara Esquival from her novel

Helmed the period romance "A Walk in the Clouds"

Directed the black comedy "Picking Up the Pieces", starring Woody Allen and Sharon Stone; film premiered on Cinemax in lieu of theatrical release

Helmed the three-hour A&E TV remake of "The Magnificent Ambersons", utilizing Orson Welles' screenplay adaptation; production edited as international theatrical release