Elizabeth Avellán

Elizabeth Avellán is a Producer of bold narrative diversified content. She is Co-Owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios. In addition to producing family and genre films that have collectively grossed over a billion and a half dollars in box office, she has played a primary role in developing Austin, Texas as a thriving film community. Avellán began her producing career when she co-founded Los Hooligans Productions in 1991 with Robert Rodriguez as the two began their feature film project “El Mariachi.” Made for just $7,000, “El Mariachi,” was the winner of the 1993 Audience Awards at the Sundance and Deauville Film Festivals. Over the past twenty years, she has produced such films as the “Spy Kids” franchise, “Sin City,” “Predators,” “Machete,” “Desperado,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” among others. Also, Avellán proudly produced “Spy Kids Armageddon”, a film for families in which she worked with Rodriguez and their 5 children. The film was Netflix release in the Fall of 2023.

Through her EYA Productions banner, she produced the holiday feature film, “Angels Sing”. She also executive produced several projects including “Blacktino” that world premiered at SXSW Film Festival in 2011 and “Secuestro Express” which was released by Miramax Films. Avellán is dedicated to creating opportunity for undiscovered voices while working diligently with seasoned craftsmen and established filmmakers. She is enthusiastically focused on Latina/Latino storytelling which is very dear to Elizabeth’s heart.

Besides producing “Spy Kids Armageddon” in 2023, she has also been producing independent films during the past several years: “The Blazing World” – premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, “Deadland” premiered at SXSW 2023, “Switch Up” premiered at SXSW 2024. Avellán also helped produce documentary “American Sons” with Director/Producer/Writer Andrew James Gonzales and Writer/Producer Laura Varela. “American Sons” is a powerful documentary which offers a gripping and deeply personal look at the enduring impact of war on U.S. Veterans, had its World Premiere at SXSW 2025, also won the Audience Award at the Houston Latino Film Festival and has been selected for its West Coast Premiere at LALIFF, the Los Angeles Latino Independent Film Festival in late May 2025.

At this time, she is in postproduction on a mysterious horror movie, filmed in the Canary Islands with Venezuelan Filmmaker Gisberg Bermudez and she is in preproduction on a family movie about kids’ soccer filmed in her hometown of Austin, Texas. Her life’s mission continues to grow and expand with this ethos of creating opportunities for undiscovered voices and diversity among the cast and the crews. Infusing possibility in the next generation is a mission which comes naturally to Elizabeth, who is the mother of 6 children.

Passionate about her adopted hometown of Austin since 1986, she has given her time and experience as a board member and supports several organizations. Those boards include Capital Area Statues, which commissions unique statues for the capital city and The Austin Film Society dedicated to empowering the community to MAKE, WATCH and LOVE film and creative media. She has participated since 2015 in ConnectHER and the ConnectHER Film Festival, whose mission is to elevate the status of women and girls everywhere. Also, since 2023 she has served as an Advisory Council member of the “Indie Meme Film Festival”, a wonderful festival in Austin that celebrates South Asian Films and Filmmakers.

Avellán was born in Caracas, Venezuela, where her grandfather, Gonzalo Veloz Mancera, was the pioneer of commercial television. At the age of thirteen, she moved to Houston, Texas with her family and later graduated from Rice University. She resides in Austin, Texas with her children.