Ángel Manuel Soto

Ángel Manuel Soto is a Puerto Rican filmmaker acclaimed for his commitment to culturally rich storytelling and his contributions to diversifying representation in cinema.

Born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Soto developed an early interest in soccer and boxing, experiences that later inspired his short film El Púgil, highlighting the impact of sports in economically challenged communities. He pursued studies in architecture, documentary filmmaking, and writing, beginning his career as a television producer and art director at a local advertising agency.

Soto's feature directorial debut, La Granja (The Farm), offered a poignant look at the harsh realities faced by Puerto Ricans. He continued to explore innovative storytelling through virtual reality projects like Dinner Party and Bashir’s Dream, which received critical acclaim at various festivals.

In 2020, Soto directed Charm City Kings, a film that won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Film Festival. He gained further recognition with Blue Beetle (2023), DC Films' first Latino-led superhero movie, starring Xolo Maridueña, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, and Becky G. The film was noted for its authentic portrayal of Latino culture and family dynamics.

Expanding his portfolio, Soto is attached to direct The Wrecking Crew, a buddy action comedy featuring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, and is co-writing a Transformers spin-off for Paramount Pictures. He is also developing a series for Amazon with Gareth Dunnett-Alcocer and working on an animated/live-action hybrid project for Paramount Pictures starring Ryan Reynolds.

Beyond filmmaking, Soto serves as an advisor for the AI film studio Late Night Labs, focusing on enhancing creative autonomy and artist ownership of intellectual property. He is a sought-after speaker on topics such as diverse storytelling and representation in media.