José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço

Agent: Rosemary Stimola

José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço is a writer and filmmaker who lives in Toronto with his wife and two small daughters.

They all stared at José, unblinking, while he wrote this bio. It was unsettling. But also kind of sweet? But mostly unsettling.

José’s career began in print journalism. He was an arts reporter and columnist at the Toronto Star, and his short fiction and personal essays have appeared in publications including McSweeney’s, Hazlitt, The Globe and Mail, and The National Post.

His feature directorial debut from his screenplay Young Werther — a contemporary adaptation of the Goethe novel — began filming in Toronto and London in April 2023. His most recent short film, Romance Language, won a BravoFact production award, premiered at Palm Springs, and was a Vimeo Staff Pick.

José’s narrative directorial work has been nominated for an International Emmy, a Canadian Screen Award, and a Juno Award (Music Video of the Year).

Oh, and he won the Butter Tart Competition at Canada’s Royal Winter Fair in 2018, taking home both the Judge’s Choice ribbon and the enmity of grandmothers from all across the nation. His secret? Brown the butter first. Don’t tell anyone! He trusts you.

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