About

C.J. tells fantastical stories with heightened flair to confront our darkest impulses - and laugh at them.

His films have screened at festivals worldwide including NewFest, Overlook Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival. His unproduced feature, a queer supernatural thriller, was selected for Tribeca Film Festival’s development marketplace. He has directed for big brands including McDonald’s, Motorola, and The Second City.

C.J. Arellano blends horror with humor to explore how humans delude themselves and reckon with each other. He is fueled by hope, fun facts, spreadsheets, snarky idealism, ube ice cream, his trusty asthma inhaler, and posting stupid bullshit on Instagram stories.

C.J. is based in NYC. Get in touch! cj@cjarellano.com

Awards

• Best Horror Comedy - Hollyshorts Comedy Film Festival - “Dry January”

• Best Horror Comedy - Laugh After Dark Comedy Fest - "Dry January"

• Best Horror Comedy - Atlanta Horrorfest - “Dry January”

• Best Horror Short - 29 Queer Film Festival - “Dry January”

• Best Writing - Queer Screams Film Festival - “Dry January”

• Best Editing - Ethereal Horror Festival "Dry January"

• First Prize (Feature Screenplay) - New York International Screenplay Awards - The Ampersand Inn

• Best Director - Artists’ Forum Festival of the Moving Image - “Griffica”

• Rising Star Award - British Horror Film Festival - “Griffica”

• Best Horror Short (Audience Award) - Out on Film: Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival - “Griffica”

• Grand Prize (Feature Screenplay Competition) - Asian American International Film Festival - Case Unsolved

• One of the Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch Out for - International Screenwriters’ Association

• Fast Track Fellowship - International Screenwriters’ Association - Case Unsolved

• Winner - Pitch at Industry Days Competition - Chicago International Film Festival - Case Unsolved

• Grand Prize (Alumni Feature Screenplay Competition) - Columbia College Chicago Written Image - Geller High School’s Mondo-Secret Crush Committee