Hernán Jiménez

Hernán Jiménez (born 1980) is a Costa Rican film director, screenwriter, actor and stand-up comedian.

Early life and education Jiménez was born in San José, Costa Rica. and left the country when he was 16 to attend Pearson College UWC in British Columbia, Canada. Jiménez earned a BFA in film from San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA in screenwriting and directing at Columbia University. He trained as an actor at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal.

Career

Stand-up comedy Jiménez started out as a stand-up comedian in Costa Rica. and has written and starred in five stand-up comedy television specials since 2012, including, "Se despichó Tere", which shattered attendance records locally and sold over 80,000 tickets. In 2024 he launched his new stand up special "Gato x Liebre", which once again topped attendance records and was later recorded at the iconic Teatro Melico Salazar in San José.

Filmmaking Jiménez's debut feature, A ojos cerrados, premiered in Costa Rica in 2010. The film is about a successful young executive who must choose between honoring her grandmother and an important work project.

With money made from his first film and his stand-up comedy act, Jimenez funded his second feature, El regreso (The Return). Jiménez wrote and directed the film and starred as Antonio, who after a decade living in New York City returns to Costa Rica for a visit and is confronted with his past. It premiered at IFF Panama in April 2016 It had the second-best opening weekend for a local film in the history of Costa Rican cinema. In October 2016, the film was selected to be the Costa Rican entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

In 2017, Jiménez wrote and directed his feature film and English language debut Elsewhere, starring Parker Posey, Aden Young, Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges, Jacki Weaver and Jackie Tohn. The film was shot near Vancouver, British Columbia and premiered on January 24, 2020.

He co-wrote the biopic A Million Miles Away for Amazon Studios, based on the life of NASA astronaut José Hernández, starring Michael Peña. The project was directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella and produced by Mark Ciardi.

Jiménez directed the Netflix romantic comedy Love Hard, starring Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang and Darren Barnett. The film premiered on November 5, 2021, and became the # 1 movie on Netflix worldwide. The film was produced by Mary Viola and McG under their banner Wonderland Sound and Vision.

In 2025 Jiménez wrote and directed the Costa Rican film ABRIL, starring Maricarmen Merino, François Arnaud and Lara Yuja. Later in the year Jiménez will direct the film Getting Rid of Matthew, based on the novel by Jane Fallon, starring Lucy Hale, Heather Graham and Luke Wilson. The film is produced by Alloy Entertainment.

Filmography

Feature films Year Title Credited as Role Notes 2010 A ojos cerrados (Eyes Closed) Writer, director, producer, editor 2012 El regreso (The Return) Writer, director, executive producer, editor Antonio Won Best International Feature Film, nominated for Best Director at 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival Won Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress at the Icaro Film Festival 2015 Viaje Taxista Premiered at 2015 Tribeca Film Festival 2016 Entonces nosotros (About Us) Writer, director, editor Diego Costa Rican entry for Best Foreign Language Film at 89th Academy Awards 2018 Elsewhere Writer, director, editor 2021 Love Hard Director The film was released on Netflix on November 5 and was number one in 87 countries by November 7, 2021.

Short films Year Title Credited as Notes 2005 Avería de la conciencia Writer, director 2005 Doble llave y cadena Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor Documentary short 2008 Una tarde cualquiera Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor 2010 The Red Bridge Writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor 2013 Tamarindo Writer, director, editor

Stand-up specials