Bio

Javier Badillo is a Venezuelan-Canadian film writer-director whose films explore themes of displacement and belonging. After a stint as a 2D animator, Javier switched to live action independent filmmaking in 2008. ​

Under his company Spitshine Flicks, Javier’s short films have screened and won awards at international film festivals, including Edmonton International Film Festival, Regina International Film Festival, Toronto Independent Film Festival, Toronto International Black Film Festival, Cannes Short Film Corner, Charlotte International Black Film Festival, and Harrogate International Film Festival (UK), where he won an Audience Choice award for his dark comedy Fatal Rhapsody.

In 2018, his drama Coco Blue received a nomination for a Leo Award (best performance, Kendra Westwood). It also won Best Actress and Best Music at the Short Circuit / Pacific Rim International Film Festival, and was nominated for 8 categories, including Best Canadian Film and Best Director, at the Hollywood North International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.

In 2019 Javier wrote and directed his first feature length film, Roads of Ithriyah, with his collaborators Shayan Bayat and Jay Kamal. The film is an adventure drama about a Syrian combatant who suffers a concussion and forgets his past, including his allegiances in the war. The film is expected to be released in 2020.

Javier was involved with the Vancouver Short Film Festival as their Head of Programming from 2012 to 2020. Previously, Javier moderated the forums of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) and was the first Regional Director for Raindance Vancouver.

In 2018 Javier received a nomination from the Vancouver Inspirational Latin Awards (in the Arts and Culture category), and in 2019 he won the prestigious RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award for his contributions to Canadian culture, with a monetary prize he donated to the Venezuelan Refugee cause.

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