A native of Madrid Spain, Vicente Franco began his studies at the University of Journalism in Madrid.
To avoid the draft during the military dictatorship in Spain, he relocated to the United States in 1975 where he earned his Film Studies bachelor's degree at the University of California in Santa Barbara, and his Masters Degree at San Francisco State University.
As a TV Producer/Director/Writer, for the Spanish Television Network (Univision) from 1982 to 1989, Franco was involved in public affairs, commercials, PSAs, news and special programming such as "Mexico Earthquake Telethon"(Winner of a Peabody Award in 1985), , "Entre Nosotros: Nuestra Familia Frente al Sida" "Exito Escolar", etc. He also directed local live news programs.
As an Independent filmmaker, he has produced, directed, shot or edited numerous documentaries:
- "Nicaragua: For the First Time" (1985), about the 1984 Democratic Elections in Nicaragua.
- "Entre el Diablo y los Tigres" (Between the Devil and the Tigers,1991), about the history of "La Violencia" en Colombia. "Cuba Va: The Challenge of the Next Generation", a documentary about Cuban youth.(1993).
- "Cada Cabeza es un Mundo, (Each Mind is a World, 1994) a documentary for the prevention of Latino drop outs in California.
- "Freedom on my Mind" (Academy Award Nomination 1994) about the Mississippi Voter Registration drive.
- "Making Peace: Soul Survivors" (1996) About poet-writer ex-gang member Luis Rodriguez
- "The Fight in the Fields" (1996) About the history of the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez.
- "In Search of Law and Order"(1997) About Juvenile delinquency and the Justice system in the US.
- "The Good War, and those who refused to fight it" (1999) About Conciencious Objectors in the Second World War.
- "Nasci Mulher Negra" (I was born a black woman) (1999) About Benedita da Silva, the first afrobrazilian woman to ever make it to the Brazilian Senate.
- "Daughter From Danang" About a Vietnamese woman and her Amerisian daughter, who reunite in Danang after 22 years of separation
As an independent commercial spots Copywriter/Creative, Vicente works with Advertising Agencies like Young and Rubicam, Hal Riney & Partners, Ogilvy and Mather.
He has produced, directed or shot films and/or training videos for Institutions like UCSF, The State of California and The Smithsonian Institution.
Vicente has served for 5 years a member of the board of Directors of "Cine Accion," the only Latino Film/Video organization in the Bay Area.
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