Max Standford is a Spanish–Peruvian film director, photographer and performer whose work moves between cinema, performance and visual research, with a strong focus on the body, identity and social realities.
After graduating from the ‘Escuela de Educadores’ in Pamplona, he made the decision to move to Madrid to continue his studies in Social Work, a period during which he began exploring dance and performance as part of his artistic practice..
This initial engagement with movement expanded into an international performative trajectory through theatre and performance workshops in Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, Cyprus and Armenia, leading to invitations to perform in international contexts such as Act It Out (Hungary), Science on the Moon and the Beast in Human (Greece), and in Spain through A mi manera and Dragtivism ’22 .
Between 2020 and 2021, he created his first personal project, A pies descalzos Vol. 1, a visual exploration of social reflection articulated through image, rhythm and movement. The project was initially accompanied by a small bilingual fanzine (Spanish/English) conceived as an extension of the visual work. In late 2025, the publication was re-edited and expanded into book format, including critical essays, a deeper conceptual development and previously unpublished photographs that revisit and celebrate the beginnings of his journey into cinema.
In 2021, he moved to Palermo, where he began collaborating with the NGO HRYO within its visual and creative processes. This experience later led him to work in Turkey, a context that gave rise to Aileni, an experimental short film reflecting on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. The film was presented at Košice Pride (Slovakia), marking his debut as a director.
Following his time in Turkey, Standford returned to Palermo to study Regia at the ‘Scuola di Cinema Independente Piano Focale’, taking the chance to develop his finale student project titled ‘Passion Fruit‘. A short film that was awarded for “Best Actress” in Kosice International Film Festival and for “Best Photography” in 19ª Festival Internacional de Cine Rengo in 2023.
Through this experience, he was given the chance to work as an assistant director for Rosa Russo (“Cuori di Sale”), Fabio Bagnasco (“Un Giorno in Piu”, “The dream is real”), Daniele Ciprí (ENIF AL) e Maria Francesca Tona (Raimondo Ruggieri).
Later, he pursued new studies in Production Cinematography, working as Direttore di Produzione / Unit Production Manager for four emerging directors: Dario Parisi (“Effetto d’un sogno interrotto”, “Il peso dell’acqua”), Michelle Motalvo (“La Patente”), Davide Moscarello (“Guardando una Stampa”) and Sabrina Greco (“Il chiodo”).
Before leaving Palermo, he directed a new poetic and performative documentary short film titled “XP|30: Il canto frammentato” — a tribute to Sicilian culture and the figure of the woman. The project is accompanied by a soundtrack that blends traditional Sicilian songs with new compositions — a process that led him to work closely in the recording studio with music producer Dany Alen, refining every detail to create a true sensory experience. The short film is set to be released at the end of 2025.
Returning to Spain, Standford continued his film studies at PIXELIAN: Escuela de Cine y Arte Visual de Pamplona. During this period, and based in the city, he worked as First Assistant Director with film director Bárbara Fernández on two new projects: the music video “Indómita” by artist Tanit, and the short film “Cruce de caminos”, part of the Navarra Tierra de Cine competition.
More recently, Standford was invited by x23 – Science in Society (Bergamo, Italy) to direct the scientific research documentary Exodus, la Carovana: Primo Movimento, developed on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Fondazione Exodus. Filmed over four months across Italy, the project unfolds as a journey from north to south, traveling by bicycle, on foot, by van and by sailboat. The film is currently in post-production, with a planned release in April 2026.
🌾Si nadie arriesgara, no existirían artistas 🌾