My Journey
José Irizarry is a film director and screenwriter passionate about character-driven storytelling and culturally resonant narratives. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Production from Arizona State University in 2021 and an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College in 2026.
His ASU capstone film, Big Hero, achieved recognition at nine film festivals in 2022, winning Best Student Film at the Florence Film Awards, the Silver Award at the Hollywood Gold Awards, and an Honorable Mention at the New York Movie Awards. Alongside Big Hero, Irizarry directed four additional short films, each contributing to the refinement of his visual style and narrative voice.
Irizarry has gained industry experience as a Filmmaker Liaison at the 2019 Phoenix Film Festival. His potential has been recognized nationally, earning him consecutive scholarships from the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) to attend their prestigious Media Summits in 2021 and 2022.
In 2025, Irizarry released his first book, Steel and Shadows: The Genexis Deception, under the pen name J.I. Gordon. Set in a future shaped by war, corporate control, and buried truths, the novel follows Lena Steele as she uncovers a conspiracy that could unravel the system that rebuilt the world. The book is the first installment in a series, making an expansion of his storytelling into the literary world.
He is currently writing a new book series titled Raven's Hollow: The Awakening. Blending generational secrets, dark forces, and the power of witches and Romani magic, the story follows Selene as she returns home to confront an ancient evil rising beneath the town's silence.
Highlights
Snapshots from José Irizarry's film projects and behind-the-scenes moments.
