Bio

Josias Chavez is a Mexican-American director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA and Denver, CO. A recipient of the John Huston scholarship for directing, Josias received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California's film and television production program. While at USC, Josias produced and directed a bevy of narrative and documentary films, including an award-winning documentary, Waiting in the Wings, and a narrative short film funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Grant, Shelter. 

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Josias also served as a mentee to Emmy-winning producer Marc Smerling. Through this mentorship, Josias worked as production assistant and camera operator on Smerling’s most recent docuseries, Mind Over Murder. The project, directed by Nanfu Wang, explores the problems with witness testimony and how it contributes to miscarriages of justice. Since graduating, Josias has joined Joshua Rofé’s Number 19 Productions (Lorena, Sasquatch, Bob Ross: Happy Accidents) as an associate producer, researcher, and archivist. Currently, While at number 19, Josias aided in the production of three documentary series and two feature-length documentaries that are set to be distributed by industry leaders HBO, Netflix, and Hulu.

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In each of Josias's projects he aims to explore facets of the human condition while shedding light on cultural and social problems faced by marginalized populations. Prior to joining USC's Film and Television Production Program, Josias studied psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. While studying psychology, Josias developed a love for public service that continues to inform his work. Josias’s catalog of films ranges from tackling issues like access to healthcare for immigrants to the problems of government policy stemming from classism and how familial trauma is a predictor for gang violence. As Josias continues his career, he does so with the goal of bringing forth stories that speak to his unique life experiences and empower others from underrepresented communities.