Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jonathan Jakubowicz jumped to international recognition after he wrote, directed and produced Secuestro express (2005); the frightening story of one young couple's ordeal as they career through the underbelly of Caracas in the hands of three thugs who've made them their latest payday. The thriller became Venezuela's highest-grossing film, eclipsing such movies as "Titanic" and "The Passion of the Christ." In 2015 Jakubowicz completed filming the epic movie about legendary boxer Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran starring Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades, John Turturro and Usher. Hands of Stone was Written, Directed and Produced by Jakubowicz through his Company Epicentral Studios, which he owns with his wife and Producing Partner Claudine Jakubowicz. Hands of Stone was acquired in Cannes by Harvey Weinstein's Company, with a two thousand screens and twenty million dollar P/A commitment for the United States, making it the biggest release in history for a Latin movie. In 2010 he co-directed the HBO International Show "Profugos", the biggest action driven original series ever made in Latin America. The series Premiered in September 2011 in the US and all Spanish Speaking territories across the world, and was nominated to the Monte Carlos TV Festival as Best Series of the Year. Previous to all this In 2002, Jakubowicz treaded sensitive waters gracefully as he broached the subject of September 11 from a very different angle. _Distance (2002/I)_ is a poignant short film about a woman's mysterious past unfolding during an unexpected trip to Holland in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Distance screened at the World Film Festival of Montreal, New York Independent Film Festival and Palm Springs Short Film Festival, amongst others. In addition, Jakubowicz wrote and directed, Ships of Hope, a documentary recounting the journey of refugee Jews on a ship fleeing the European Nazi Regime to Venezuela. It screened at the Director's Guild of America's Angelus Awards, and the Havana Film Festival. The documentary went on to win; Best Documentary at the Premios a la Calidad de Cenac (Venezulelan Oscars). Ships of Hope was purchased by HBO and History Channel Latin America, and was in programming rotation for two years. Jakubowicz has a BA in Communications from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
