Ecuadorean filmmaker Mauricio Samaniego passed away on Tuesday, April 2, at the age of 58. A multifaceted talent, he distinguished himself as a director, screenwriter, professor, and casting director. Samaniego's legacy is anchored in his renowned 2015 documentary feature, Alfaro vive carajo (Alfaro Lives, Dammit!).
Born in Quito in 1965, Samaniego pursued his passion for film, earning a master's degree in Film Scriptwriting from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He commenced his career as an assistant director and second assistant director, contributing to notable films such as Camilo Luzuriaga’s Between Marx and a Naked Woman / Entre Marx y una mujer desnuda (1996), Sebastián Cordero’s Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999), and Crónicas (2004).
Samaniego's creative footprint extended beyond assisting roles. He co-wrote the screenplay for Luzuriaga’s 1809-1810 mientras llega el día (2004), showcasing his narrative prowess and doubling as assistant director. In 2015, he ventured into directing with the compelling documentary Alfaro vive carajo, shedding light on the clandestine left-wing group in Ecuador during the 1980s, of which he was a member. The documentary garnered acclaim, securing awards at prestigious festivals such as Havana, Viña del Mar, Jujuy, Encuentros del Otro Cine (EDOC), FilMar, and Ventana Andina.
Throughout his career, Samaniego demonstrated his versatility through various short films including Doble diablo, which earned the Best Short Award at the Cero Latitud Film Festival, La esquina de las almas, Fifiriche, Aquí mismo es todo, and Alma perdida. Additionally, he lent his expertise in casting and directing extras to productions such as Joshua Marston’s Maria Full of Grace (2004), Sebastián Cordero’s Pescador (2011), and Diego Araujo’s Holiday / Feriado (2014), and served as a floor runner in John Malkovich’s directorial debut The Dancer Upstairs (2002).
Beyond his contributions to cinema, Samaniego shared his knowledge and passion as a screenwriting and directing professor at several universities. In a testament to his literary flair, he also published a compilation of short stories titled Taxidermia.
