About me

I’m Javier Castillo, but most people call me Javi. I’m a Salvadorian-American cinematographer based on the East Coast, usually bouncing between Boston and NYC. I’m versed in commercial, documentary, and narrative projects, with experience leading productions across both the U.S. and internationally. At the center of it all is storytelling.

I grew up in El Salvador, and moving to the U.S. in 2015 reshaped how I saw both life and film. What started as a kid with a camera capturing everyday moments has become a career I once thought impossible. Coming from an immigrant family, the arts didn’t feel like a realistic path, but I trusted my gut. That led me to MassArt, where I earned a Dual-BFA in Film/Video and Photography, and met my life partner along the way.

What excites me most are projects rooted in real human stories, the ones that feel raw, honest, and alive. The images matter, but it’s the people I meet along the way that make this work worthwhile.

My dream is to keep building a community of filmmakers who lift each other up, a space where creativity, collaboration, and care come first.