Marcelo Martinessi is a Paraguayan director and screenwriter, born in 1973 in Asunción, Paraguay. A communications student at the Catholic University of Asunción, Marcelo spent time in New York, London, and Madrid, where he studied film and production at various institutions. From his short films, Karai Norte (2009), Calle Última (2010), and El Baldío (2012), the director has imbued his stories with social and identity themes. His shorts, which have received support from National Geographic, have been successfully presented at several festivals around the world. He made his feature film debut with the acclaimed film Las Herederas (2018), which has won awards at prestigious festivals such as Berlin, Cartagena, Montreal, and San Sebastián, among others.