Born and raised in the Caribbean, now living in Barcelona since 2018.
Dominican film director and analog photographer. I try to create stories that come from my own experiences as a way to connect with others, and, most of all, with my inner child and the woman I am becoming.

I graduated as a Film Director from the Escola de Cinema de Barcelona (Spain), and also hold a diploma in Cinematography.

I was selected for the 78th Locarno BaseCamp and am currently one of six resident artist in an extended one-month residency in Milan, part of Locarno’s BaseCamp program, where I am developing a project set to premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival.

My latest film is the short JUANITA (2025), written and directed with Uliane Tatit. The film received the ICEC grant and had its world premiere at the 75th BERLINALE, one of the most prestigious A-category international film festivals. It was part of the Berlinale Generation KPlus selection. It was also screened at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, in the Teens Program, where it won Best Short Film. 

My first and graduate short film O que me parta un rayo (May lightning strike me down, 2023) premiered at the 56th SITGES Film Festival, where it won Best Screenplay in the New Filmmaker category. It has also been screened at the 27th Festival de Málaga, the Oscar- and Goya-qualifying Brussels Short Film Festival, the 52nd Huesca Film Festival, the 43rd FilmSchoolFest Munich, and other prestigious festivals in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay. Thanks to this film, I received the Best Female Director award from CIMA at the Festival Corto Ciudad Real.

Both short films were selected as candidates for the Gaudí Awards.

I was also part of the selection jury, curating the 44th Future of Storytellers Munich Film Festival (formerly Film School Fest Munich).

Also, as a film photographer, I’ve captured personalities such as Isabella Rossellini, Macarena García,  Iria del Río, Amaia, Rigoberta Bandini, and other inspiring women.

I also hold a Bachelor's degree in Advertising, and worked as a Creative Copywriter from 2014 to 2018 at international agencies including Publicis, BBDO, and Young & Rubicam. In 2016, I represented the Dominican Republic at the Young Lions Cannes, in the Film category.

Currently, I’m writing my debut feature film to be filmed in the Dominican Republic. 

For inquires: 

karen.joaquin1@gmail.com | +34 655 95 47 39