SJ MAIN MUNOZ  |  TELEVISION & FILM DIRECTOR

Summer Joy “SJ” Main Muñoz is a drama television director. She’s also an award-winning filmmaker of short films that have screened worldwide. Before dedicating herself full-time to directing in the dramatic, historical and thriller/action/crime/horror genres, Main Muñoz worked in production for nearly 20 years in roles including Director of Development, freelance Production Supervisor, and Post Supervisor. She has worked with filmmakers and companies including Merchant Ivory Productions, Amblin, River Road Entertainment, and award-winning director, the late Stanley Donen.

Main Muñoz received her BA from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television in Directing and Acting, where she was the recipient of the James Bridges Excellence Award for Acting. She graduated from Columbia University of New York with a Master's in Film Directing and holds a doctorate from the European Graduate School of Switzerland where she studied with Atom Egoyan and Claire Denis. In 2020, Main Muñoz was the only Latina narrative director to be invited into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) where she now a two-term member of the Executive Committee. She’s also a member of the TV Academy and has been a member of the DGA since 2020 where she is currently a two-term Co-Chair of the Latino Committee.

Main Muñoz was raised in Cambria, California. She is Costa Rican-American, and is a resident of both the US and Costa Rica.