Hugo Santa Cruz is a prolific London-based writer, director, and producer whose work blends experimental form with sharp socio-political critique.
A former musician whose songs featured in acclaimed series such as Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, Santa Cruz transitioned to filmmaking to explore themes of identity, power, and social change. He is the founder of anti Kino, a cooperative production company committed to countercultural, independent storytelling.
His debut feature, My London Lullaby (2021), examined the lives of Europeans in post-Brexit Britain and won the Special Jury Prize at Italy’s Efebo d’Oro Film Festival.
His follow-up, The Fifth Generation (2023), is a darkly comic, multilingual exploration of climate politics featuring Leigh Gill (Joker), awarded Best Feature Film at the Brighton Rocks International Film Festival (UK).
His 2025 housing-crisis comedy Modern Women is an Official Selection at the Austin Film Festival.
Known for his bold narrative structures and uncompromising vision, Santa Cruz continues to push boundaries in independent cinema.
Awards
2024
Winner of the Canary Islands International Film Market "FOCUS CANARIAS" award with the feature film project TOURIST GO HOME.
2023
Winner of the audience award at the LesGaiCineMad Film Festival in Madrid (Spain) (as Associate Producer) with A CLOSET-FREE HOME.
Winner of the SPIRIT OF BRIGHTON award and BEST FEATURE runner-up at the 7th edition of the Brighton Rocks International Film Festival (UK) with THE FIFTH GENERATION.
2022
Special Commendation of the Jury at the 7th edition of the Romford International Film Festival (UK) with MY LONDON LULLABY.
2021
Winner of the Jury prize at the 43rd edition of the Efebo D'Oro Film Festival (Palermo, Italy) with MY LONDON LULLABY.