
Cristina Costantini
Directing
Biography
Cristina Costantini, born and raised in Wisconsin, is an Emmy Award-winning director and producer renowned for her compelling documentaries that blend investigative rigor with heartfelt storytelling. A graduate of Yale University, Cristina began her career as an investigative journalist, delving into critical issues such as immigration, detention centers, and the opioid epidemic. Her impactful reporting earned her accolades, including a GLAAD Media Award, two Emmy nominations, and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. Transitioning to documentary filmmaking, Cristina co-directed "Science Fair," a film that follows nine high school students as they compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair. The documentary won the inaugural Festival Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival and an Emmy Award, cementing her reputation as a talented filmmaker. In 2020, Cristina co-directed "Mucho Mucho Amor," a documentary about the legendary astrologer Walter Mercado. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later released on Netflix, receiving critical acclaim and a nomination for a Critics Choice Award. As a partner at Muck Media, a Los Angeles-based production company, Cristina continues to focus on character-driven storytelling that highlights underrepresented narratives. In 2024, Muck Media received 21 Emmy nominations, underscoring its commitment to impactful journalism and storytelling. Cristina resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Alfie, their daughter, Penny, and their elderly pug, Harriet.
Known For

Karol G pulls back the curtain on her rise to stardom while navigating a sold-out stadium tour, creating new music and releasing a new album.
Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful

Sally Ride's groundbreaking journey as the first American woman in space concealed a deeply personal story. Her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, unveils their covert 27-year romance and its accompanying sacrifices.
Sally

Once the world's most famous astrologer, Walter Mercado seeks to resurrect a forgotten legacy. Raised in the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico, Walter grew up to become a gender non-conforming, cape-wearing psychic whose televised horoscopes reached 120 million viewers a day for decades before he mysteriously disappeared.
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado

The rise and fall of Menudo, the most iconic Latin American boy band in history. But behind the glitz and glamour was a web of abuse and exploitation at the hands of the band’s manager, Edgardo Diaz. Through revealing interviews with former Menudo members, this docuseries examines how this extravagant facade was disguising serious wrongdoings by Diaz.
Menudo: Forever Young

An unprecedented look at the Stanford Prison Experiment, one of history's most infamous psychology studies, through the firsthand accounts of the original "guards" and "prisoners," many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time.
The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth

Filmmakers follow nine high school students from around the globe as they compete at an international science fair. Facing off against 1,700 of the smartest teens from 78 countries, only one will be named Best in Fair.
Science Fair

The series follows a group of inspiring teens who represent a vast spectrum of ISEF hopefuls. In addition to U.S. competitors, the series follows several fierce international contenders who have already beaten out the competition in their own countries to make it to ISEF.
Science Fair: The Series

John Mew thinks we're all ugly. And modern living is to blame. For decades he's waged a lonely war against orthodontics and that teenage rite of passage - braces. With his son now taking up the fight, Mew's fringe theories suddenly find an enthusiastic audience online.
Open Wide

Follows five young star students on their journey to win one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for student entrepreneurs.
Own the Room

Sometimes, finding your tribe requires a bit of magic. For attendees of a live action role-playing (LARP) camp in upstate New York, the deeply accepting environment has given neurodivergent, queer, and self-proclaimed "nerdy" teenagers the space and community for self-discovery that they have never found anywhere else. As the campers immerse themselves in this imaginative world, they discover inner strength, heal from past traumas, and emerge as the heroes they are meant to be, both in the fantasy realm and in real life.
We Can Be Heroes

Matty "Square" Ruggiero and his childhood friends tell their story of what it was like to grow up in South Brooklyn, where money was tight but friendships were tighter.
The Originals

During a summer of grief and fear brought on by immigration raids in Los Angeles, one small act of bravery gives a community hope.