Writer/director José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço brings us a modern take on a 250+ year classic with Young Werther.
Synopsis: Patrick J. Adams, Douglas Booth and Alison Pill star in this romantic comedy based on the classic smash hit novel of tragic romance. While on a simple errand to Toronto, a carefree and charming young writer named Werther stumbles across the love of his life only to discover that the youngwoman is engaged. Despite the urgings of his hypochondriac best friend, Werther turns his world upside down in a desperate, misguided and hilarious quest to win her heart.
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José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço is a writer and filmmaker who lives in Toronto with his wife, two small daughters, and an even smaller puppy(who is practically perfect in every way).
José’s feature directing debut is Young Werther, from his adapted screenplay of the 1774 smash-hit novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Johann Goethe. The film premiered in the Special Presentations section of TIFF24, was nominated for the DGC’s Jean-Marc Vallée Discovery Award, and topped the CBC’s list of films that defined the festival. His most recent short film, Romance Language, won a Bravo FACT production award. It premiered at Palm Springs, jogged along from festival to festival, then sprinted online as a Vimeo Staff Pick.
With illustrator James Braithwaite, José co-created and wrote the children’s book series “Billie.” The first “Billie” book launches in Spring 2025 and the second follows in Spring 2026. The series will be published by Tundra/Penguin Random House.
José’s narrative work has been nominated for a Juno Award (Music Video of the Year), a Canadian Screen Award, and an International Emmy. He has directed commercials for Audi, Acura, Pepsi Co, and Cineplex. As a creative consultant, he has collaborated on broadcast and online campaigns for brands including Apple, Nike, Mercedes, McDonald’s, Samsung, and the NFL.
