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The Sun Shines on Filmmaker Miguel Angel Ferrer

Introduction to Miguel Angel Ferrer. 1:01 min. Interview: Raymond Elman. Post-Production: Lee Skye. Music: Tony Succar Recorded via Zoom: 7/24/2025, Miami–Los Angeles.

MIGUEL ANGEL FERRER is a Venezuelan Cuban-American award winning filmmaker with over 18 years in the advertising, film and television industries.

Ferrer’s feature film “The Shadow of the Sun,” was selected to represent Venezuela at the 96th Academy Awards. The film had its world premiere on closing day at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) to a sold-out audience and rave reviews. The film has won 14 international awards including Best Latin American Feature at FicMonterrey, The Audience Award at Miami Film Festival, multiple jury, press and audience awards, and best director and best actor awards for Carlos Manuel Gonzalez and Anyelo Lopez.

Ferrer’s short film, “deMonica,” has won numerous awards worldwide including Best Short film in the Venezuelan International Film Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival. His experimental short, “Culpa,” was acquired by HBO and has been an official selection at over 15 festivals, garnering finalist accolades as well as Best Actor win for lead Daniel Hernandez.

In addition to his film work, Ferrer has directed and produced Super Bowl and national campaigns in both the North American and Hispanic markets, for clients such as NBC UNIVERSAL, PEPSICO, FORD, and many more.

A former National Geographic cameraman and Warner Bros. TV Post Supervisor under Michael Robin and James Duff, Ferrer has also written, produced, and directed over 50 music videos for Sony Music, Universal Music, Warners Music Group, and independent artists.

A graduate of the University of Miami, Ferrer relocated to the United States as a teenager from his native Venezuela, where he displayed his creative passion for cinema and storytelling at an early age.

The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 11 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

“THE SHADOW OF THE SUN” TRAILER: 1:45 min.

Official trailer for “The Shadow of the Sun,” written, directed, and produced by Miguel Angel Ferrer.

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 1:42 min.

Where did you grow up and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 3:57 min.

Why did your family leave Venezuela, and why did they move to Miami?

RESILIENCE: 6:11 min.

As one of two Venezuelans in your school, were you bullied?

SELF-CONFIDENCE: 6:58 min.

When did you become passionate about films, and when did you decide to pursue a career in the film industry?

SERENDIPITY: 4:06 min.

How did you decide what college to attend, and how did that experience match your expectations?

PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS: 11:01 min.

What was your evolution from the University of Miami to working on the kinds of projects that you wanted to do?

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 7:49 min.

Is your film, “The Shadow of the Sun,” based on a true story?

EMPATHY: 8:26 min.

Why did you make the younger brother deaf? And how did you cast the part?

CRITICAL THINKING: 1:16 min.

It is shocking that Anyelo López, who plays the deaf brother, has never acted before, but maybe the real life experience of communicating through signing and facial expressions gave him the rudimentary skillset required.

UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:12 min.

We published two ArtSpeak video conversations with author Ben Mezrich, who has written 28 books, some of which have turned into movies like “The Social Network” and “21.” His current protocol is to write a 10 page movie treatment first, and if producers give him a green light he will write a book (usually within 3 months).

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 4:30 min.

What’s on your drawing board?

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 4:02 min.

What’s your favorite movie?