Personal info
Known for
Director
Gender
Male
Birthday
14 June
Location
California, United States
Edit pageJoel Souza
Biography
Joel Souza is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and director known primarily for his work in independent cinema. He began his career making short films and working in various production roles before moving into feature filmmaking.
Souza wrote and directed Crown Vic (2019), a crime drama starring Thomas Jane and Luke Kleintank. The film follows two Los Angeles police officers during a single night as they confront criminals, personal conflicts, and the pressures of police work.
He later directed Rust, a Western starring Alec Baldwin, Frances Fisher, and Patrick Scott McDermott. Souza also wrote the screenplay for the film. Production was disrupted by a fatal on-set shooting in October 2021, in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, and Souza was injured. The film was eventually completed and released in 2024.
Souza has worked primarily as a writer-director, with his films often focusing on crime, violence, personal morality, and characters placed under extreme pressure. His work has earned recognition within independent American filmmaking.
