Alonso Alvarez Barreda was born in Mexico City and raised in the Mexican town of Tampico Tamaulipas, after being rejected from several film schools; He enrolled at the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas to study International Commerce, but after two years dropped out to pursue his dream of filmmaking. Through his mother, he met director Alejandro Monteverde (Bella, Little boy). Monteverde became his friend and mentor encouraging Alvarez to shoot his first short film. The film entitled "Historia de un Letrero" won the highly coveted Best Short Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. Shot entirely in Tampico with a 50 dollar budget, 'Historia" has been Official Selection in countless film festivals, circulating in more than 200 Internet blogs gaining international acclaim and was also named one of the most inspirational films by Internet users.
Alvarez's second short The Finding penned with actor Julio César Cedillo and produced by Mexican actor Rafael Amaya was his first foray in film. Shot in super 16mm, "The Finding" stars Cedillo himself (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Cowboys and Aliens, The Walking Dead) and Mexican star Alejandro Felipe Flores (Innocent Voices) The Finding has been official selection in over 20 international film festivals around the world, grabbing 5 international awards, including the "speak out against domestic violence humanitarian award" becoming the only Latin American director to receive an award that year. The Finding was invited to be a part of the 2010 Cannes film festival, considered as one of the best cinematographic expressions against domestic violence. The film was also screened several times on National TV in México, public schools and inside the Metro bus in México city.
His third short film Crescendo was entirely shot at Universal Studios in Los Angeles CA, it is a period piece set in the 18th Century, produced by Pattie Mallette, better known as Justin Bieber's mother. Crescendo has been official selection in over 30 international film festivals, including the prestigious Telluride and the New York Film Festival, taking over 20 international awards, including the "Hollywood Discovery Award" at the Hollywood Film Festival for Alvarez. Crescendo was also in consideration for the Oscars 2013 and has been screened all over the world, including the US Congress.
In early 2013 he co-wrote and produced "Catch" a short film directed by Disney's Alumni actor David Henrie. Catch has official selection in over 15 international film festivals having its worldwide premiere at the Hollywood Chinese Theaters.
In late 2014 Alonso was the recipient of the Best Director award at the distinguished NBC Universal Short Film festival, as well as nominated for best writing and best film. Crescendo also took the award for best Actor that year.
As a side project, Alonso wrote and produced "The Bench" a short film produced by Mark Burnett, creator of hit shows "The Voice" "Shark Tank", "Survivor" "The Bible" and the upcoming remake of Ben-Hur. In that same year Alonso was selected as one of four filmmakers from all around the world to be a part of the first-ever HBO Access Directing program, where the filmmakers worked with HBO executives and directed content for them. Alonso was the only Mexican filmmaker in the program. The result of this collaboration is "The Walk" a short film starring actor and producing partner Max Arciniega (Breaking Bad) about a Mexican man and his son who are faced with a major crisis of conscience as they try to cross the border illegally. The Walk has been Official Selection in over 20 International Film Festivals.
Alonso is currently finishing writing his first feature film "The Wingwalker" a heartfelt suspense film about a young widower who is deported as his daughter is scheduled for a heart transplant.
