Stephen Cervantes is a Panamanian American filmmaker and graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, dedicated to telling emotionally grounded, visually bold stories that center emotional rawness and perspectives from the margins. His award-winning short films, including Big World and Tortoise, have screened at festivals such as the Marfa Film Festival, Ashland Independent, and Lone Star Film Fest (winner, Best Director), gaining recognition for their intimate storytelling and striking cinematic language. His micro-docs for Son of Man cider helped define the brand, by educating audiences about the rich cultural heritage of the Basque people in northern Spain.

Fortaleza, his debut feature, draws from his personal and cultural background to explore themes of generational trauma and racial identity. Currently in post-production, the film continues his mission to bring nuanced and unconventional Latino narratives to the screen, beyond stereotype.

In addition to his narrative work, Cervantes has applied his editorial sensibility to high-profile commercial projects, editing content for brands like IMDb, Nike, and Hexclad. His work reflects a strong command of story and crafting meaningful, resonant experiences across mediums.

He is currently based in Portland, OR, where he is developing future projects that aim to expand Latino representation in film and television, including a documentary project on Brazilian musician, Baden Powell.