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Top 10 Facts about Alfonso Cuarón

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is a Mexican screenwriter and director who is known for fluid storytelling in a multifaceted range of genres. Born in Mexico City on 28^th November 1961, Cuarón attended the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos.

In this school within the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuarón studied film although he was later expelled. Although he feared he would never be a part of the cinematic arts, Cuarón got a job as a technician in Mexican television. He later directed television and then movies.

Produced in 1991, Sólo con Tu Pareja (Love in the Time of Hysteria) was Cuarón’s first feature film. This successful film, for which Cuarón also wrote the screenplay, brought Cuarón a lot of attention. It got the attention of Sydney Pollack, an American director who asked him to direct an episode of the 1993 television series Fallen Angels.

Below are ten amazing facts about Alfonso Cuarón Orozco.

1. Cuarón was expelled from the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos

In one of his school projects, Cuarón helped create a film in English. The film was meant to be in Spanish. Due to this disobedience, he was expelled from the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos.

2. He has received several accolades including most Oscar nominations for one film

Alfonso Cuarón at the 2015 Venice Film Festival. Photo by Bruno Chatelin/

Cuarón has tied the record by having four Oscar nominations for one film. These nominations were for the film Roma. The nominations were for the cinematography, originality in the screenplay, direction as well as producer.

The film Roma also received the best foreign language film award. In addition to these, Cuarón has also received other Oscar nominations for his other films. He is also the first Latin American to receive the Academy Award for best director. This is in addition to two Golden Globes, two Director’s Guild awards, and eight BAFTAs.

He was nominated in 2007 for an original screenplay for Y Tu Mamá También, and in 2011 he received several nominations for Children of Men. The nominations were for best achievement in film editing, best writing, and adapted screenplay.

3. He has an interesting way of creating a sense of urgency in films

Cuarón has used hand-held cameras in some of his films. They create an unsteady shot by also working well in some films. The shots work well in scenes that are trying to create a sense of urgency or frantic motion.

4. He had not read the Harry Potter books when he directed the third film

This is a poster for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Photo by empirecinemas/

Cuarón directed the film The Prisoner of Azkaban, which was the third Harry Potter film. He had not read any of the Harry Potter books but is said to have done a good job with the film.

Fans of Harry Potter loved the film just as much although it was thought to be a little darker than the previous films. This is due to Cuarón’s style of using lighting in his films.

5. Children of Men was one of his work

Alfonso Cuarón and Clive Owen during the production of Children of men. Photo by Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería/

Cuarón directed the film titled Children of Men. This is a sad film depicting a world on the brink of extinction. In the film, there are no children in the world.

In the film, the youngest man is also killed and miraculously a woman becomes pregnant. She becomes the symbol of hope for the restoration of humanity.

6. When he received his Golden Globe award, he apologized to Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock at the premiere of The Proposal. Photo by Angela George/

While on the set of Gravity, Cuarón’s utterance scared Sandra Bullock. His words were misinterpreted due to his heavy accent.

He said that he would like to give Sandra an earpiece which sounded like he said he wants to give her herpes. This is what he apologized for during the awards ceremony.

7. He is considered one of the most incredible directors in the film industry

Alfonso Cuarón signing autographs at 17th Morelia International Film Festival after presenting Roma, October 2018. Photo by Zamir A. Hernandez/

Cuarón enjoys his work and uses each movie as a means of continuous improvement. He keeps learning and improving his work and his ways.

To Cuarón, each movie is a lesson to be better and to do better. This is probably why he is considered one of the most incredible directors in the film industry.

In 1995, Cuarón directed a Little Princess, his first English-language theatrical release. The film was based on a children’s classic book at the same time. The book is authored by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

In 1998, Cuarón directed Great Expectations an adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens. The Hollywood cast in the film included Robert De Niro, Ethan Hawke, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

8. He rose through the ranks initially serving as a Technician and Assistant Director

Alfonso Cuarón in 1998. Photo by Alfonso Cuarón 01/

Cuarón initially worked as a technician in Mexican television. He later worked on La Hora Marcada as a director. This work led to his work in the film industry. He started by working as an assistant director on La Gran Fiesta and Gaby: A True Story. His big-screen directorial role came in 1991.

Sólo con Tu Pareja was his debut. It’s a sex comedy based on a womanizing businessman played by Daniel Giménez Cacho. The film which was a big hit in his home country also starred Astrid Hadad and Claudia Ramírez.

9. He has been married twice and has three children from both marriages

Cuarón first got married in 1980. He was married to Mariana Elizondo and the marriage lasted about 13 years. During this time, they had a son Jonás Cuarón, who was born in 1981.

In 2001, Cuarón married Annalisa Bugliani, an Italian actress and freelance journalist. Their marriage lasted from 2001 to 2008 and they had two children. Their first born Tess Bu Cuarón, was born in 2002, and Olmo Teodoro Cuarón, was born in 2005.

Cuarón has lived in London since the year 2000. He spends some time in England and the rest in Pietrasanta, Italy.

10. He used a lot of non-professionals in his film titled Roma

This is a poster for Roma. Photo by CineMaterial/

In his film titled Roma, Cuarón cast a lot of non-professionals. As his cinematographer, Cuarón transformed the Roma neighborhood in Mexico City to look like it did in the 1970s.

He replicated the costumes and the old cars and also created a 9-year-old version of himself. The film was based on his mother and their nanny who was his second mother.

In the film, his mother is named Sofia while his second mother is named Cleo. Cuarón stated that he received countless offers to direct other films after Gravity’s success. Despite the success of the 2013 film, Cuarón said he had an overwhelming pull to direct Roma.