Ralph Portillo

In 1997, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and great humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer, was the subject of the critical acclaimed documentary, "THE SPIRIT OFALBERT SCHWEITZER,"  which Mr. Portillo directed.  The film was chosen finalist in the Best Documentary category at the New York Film Festival as well as winning Honorable Mention at the prestigious Cindy Awards.

In 1990, HEMISPHERE ENTERTAINMENT was formed with offices in Hollywood with Portillo as the company's founder and President.  Mr. Portillo became the creative force behind the initiation, development, packaging and production of their theatrical, network and cable motion pictures.

In addition to the award winning documentary about Albert Schweitzer, Mr. Portillo has directed 14 motion pictures as well as the faith based TVdrama series "BELIEVERS AMONG US" which he also co-created.  Some of those films include:  "THE LAST GREAT RIDE (Ernest Borgnine - Eileen Brennan) - "BIG BROTHER TROUBLE" (Dick Van Patten - Mario Lopez) - "NAKED LIES" (Steven Bauer - Shannon Tweed) -  "LONG WAY BACK" (Robert Forster - Joe Estevez).

Other Film festivals in which Mr. Portillo's films have won awards are Worldfest Houston, The Flagstaff International Film Festival, The Charleston International Film Festival and the Santa Clarita Film Festival.  His TV series has won the Aurora Award, The Davey Award, The Telly Award and The AccoladeAward.

Mr. Portillo is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

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Ralph Portillo –  

            Ralph Portillo began his film career as an assistant editor while attending University to earn his Masters degree in International Business.

            He later became a first assistant director working in film and network television, eventually following his dream to direct.

            In 1987, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and great humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer, was the subject of the critical acclaimed documentary, “THE SPIRIT OF ALBERT SCHWITZER,” which Mr. Portillo directed.  The film was chosen finalist in the Best Documentary category at the New York Film Festival as well as winning Honorable Mention at the prestigious Cindy Awards.

            In 1990, the formation of "HEMISPHERE ENTERTAINMENT” was announced with offices in Hollywood with Portillo as the company's founder and President.  Mr. Portillo became the creative force behind the initiation, development, packaging and production of their theatrical, network and cable motion pictures. The significance of the earlier years of movie making experiences as an editor and first assistant director as well as an International Business Degree proved effective and soon he and co-founder Jamie Elliott had compiled a formidable slate of potential projects.  This began an alliance that is still going strong encompassing numerous feature length films to date.

In addition, Mr. Portillos’s family films the suspense thriller “BLOODY MURDER” which Mr. Portillo directed was sold to Artisan Entertainment and to date has sold over 600,000 Video and DVD copies.  He also directed Golden Globe nominee Steven Bauer and Shannon Tweed in the thriller “NAKED LIES” which enjoyed a successful worldwide release through Columbia Tri-Star.

            His two latest directorial efforts “THE GHOST CLUB” a spirited family film starring newcomer Brittany Robertson and shot on location in South Carolina, was released in December 2003 and the suspense thriller “ONE OF THEM,” was be released in 2005.

            In December of 2004 Mr. Portillo directed the family film “UNDERCOVER KIDS” written by children’s book author Gibbs Davis and well known novelist Charles Salzberg which was released late 2005.  The 1940’s period drama “THE FALLEN” completed shooting August 2005.

            Mr. Portillo and his partners have developed and are producing a new faith based TV drama series called “BELIEVERS AMONG US.”  The first four episodes are airing on TBN, SKY ANGEL, CORNERSTONE NETWORK, FAITH TV, and TCT NETWORK.  Already the series has won the prestigious 2005 Telly Award and the 2005 Aurora Award

            Mr. Portillo’s films have won awards at the New York Film Festival, Worldfest Houston, The Flagstaff International Film Festival, The Charleston International Film Festival, The Santa Clarita International Film Festival and a prestigious Cindy Award.

In addition to his director duties, Mr. Portillo serves as producer on all HEMISPHERE films.  He recently produced the thriller “BARE WITNESS” starring Daniel Baldwin and Angie Everhart which is enjoying successful worldwide distribution through Columbia Tri-Star as well as the soon to be released drama “DON’T LET GO” starring Academy Award nominee Katharine Ross which recently took home awards at The Westchester International Film Festival and the Stony Brook Film Festival.     

            Mr. Portillo is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

            He and his wife currently live in Los Angeles, California.