Jaume Balagueró

November 2, 1968

Lleida, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Jaume Balagueró is a Spanish film director and screenwriter celebrated as a defining voice in modern horror cinema. He co-created the groundbreaking horror series [REC] with Paco Plaza, co-directing the original and its immediate sequel and helping establish one of the genre’s most influential found-footage franchises. Balagueró’s creative influence extends throughout the [REC] saga: he co-wrote the screenplay for [REC] 4: Apocalypse with Manu Díez and directed the film, delivering the franchise’s climactic chapter of viral terror and survival. Outside the [REC] universe, Balagueró’s diverse filmography includes The Nameless, Darkness, Sleep Tight, and Muse, showcasing his command of atmospheric tension and psychological dread. Known for blending visceral horror with narrative depth, he remains a seminal figure in Spanish genre filmmaking and a cornerstone of the international horror community.