Director of
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)
JOEL is a filmmaker from the Bronx, inspired by the Dominican-American community, urban culture, and music. He began making short films as a self-taught director and later studied directing at institutions including USC and the National Film and Television School. His style blends documentary and fiction through street casting and semi-improvised dialogue. His recurring themes include diaspora, coming-of-age, and social justice.
He has received the Tribeca All Access Grant, the Locarno Best Direction Award, and was named a “New Face of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine.
Films: MAD BILLS TO PAY (OR DESTINY, DILE QUE NO SOY MALO) (2025)