Juan Pinzás was born in Vigo (Pontevedra - Galicia - Spain) where he attended high school and later graduated from the Institute of Electronic Studies. He shot his first short films in Galicia in Super-8mm between 1977 and 1980, entitled: "Mónica", "Aconteceu en Galicia", "O derradeiro Fiana", "Amanece en Vigo", "Reflexión" and "Ensueños". He participated with them in various national competitions for this category and won several awards.

In 1981 he found a producer and shot his first short film in the professional 35mm format, "Opus I Homo Hominis", selected for the International Film Festival in Sao Paulo and distinguished with a Special Mention at the Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Films.

In 1982, in Galicia, along with Pilar Sueiro he set up the production company PS Films (Pilar Sueiro Films). After that, Juan Pinzás became one of Spain's most prolific short filmmakers. Between 1982 and 1983, he wrote and directed 18 short fiction films on 35mm. These were exhibited commercially in cinemas throughout Spain: "Augurio" (Omen), "Virginal" (Virginal), "Vestida de fiesta" (Dressed Up for A Party), "Una historia gallega" (A Galician Story), "El tubo de rayos catódicos" (The Cathode Ray Tube), "Cien puntos para Julián Pintos" (One Hundred Point for Julián Pintos), "La tercera mujer" (The Third Woman), "Añoranzas" (Yearnings for the Past), "Juego decisivo" (A Decisive Game), "La esfera" (The Sphere), "Gula" (Greed), "Mujer, mujer" (Woman, Woman), "Carmín" (Red), "Hechizo" (Spell), "El rito" (The Ritual), "Muñeca de azul" (Blue Doll) and "Cinefilia" (Passion for the Cinema).

In 1984, again with Pilar Sueiro, he founded a new, more important production company, Atlántico Films, S.A. He wrote and prepared his first feature film, "La indiscreta burguesía", which was later titled "La gran comedia" (The Great Comedy).

In 1985 he shot his first film as writer and director, "La gran comedia" (The Great Comedy), which participated in the 34th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

In 1991, he directed his second film, "El juego de los mensajes invisibles" (The Game of the Invisible Messages), based on the novel "El hijo adoptivo" by Álvaro Pombo, with a script by Pinzás and Pombo. He participated with this film in numerous international festivals and won the Glauber Rocha Award for Best Film at the International Film Festival in Figueira da Foz (Portugal). The veteran actor Antonio Ferrandis won three awards at various international festivals for his excellent work in the film.

In 1992 Juan Pinzás participated with Quentin Tarantino in the round table held in Sao Paulo (Brazil) within the context of the International Film Festival, both invited as representatives of the new generation of directors. Tarantino and Pinzás also competed in the Official Section at the festival with their respective films "Reservoir Dogs" and "El juego de los mensajes invisibles" (The Game of the Invisible Messages).

In 1994/95 he directed his third film, with his own script, "La leyenda de la doncella" (The Legend of the Maiden), obtaining the Silver Columbus award at the Latin American Film Festival in Huelva, the Golden Egret for Best Film at the Hispanic Film Festival in Miami, two Silver Unicorns for Best Script and Best Photography at the Estepona International Week of Fantastic Cinema and the Gargoyle for Best Actress at the Burgos International Festival of Fantastic Cinema. Nominated for International Fantasy Film Award Best Film at the Fantasporto - Oporto International Film Festival.

In 1998, he produced Pilar Sueiro's first film "Cuando el mundo se acabe te seguiré amando" (I'll still love you, when the world ends), that made her the first female Galician feature film director.

In 2000, he wrote and directed his fourth film, "Era outra vez" (Once Upon Another Time), the first Dogma film in Spanish cinema with the Official Certificate awarded by Lars von Trier, and with which he represented Spain in the Official Section of the Moscow International Film Festival and also participated in countless festivals around the world. It was nominated for the Golden St. George for Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival and for the Golden India Catalina for Best Film at the Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival.

In 2001, the Burgos International Film Festival (Eninci) paid a tribute to him and showed the film "El juego de los mensajes invisibles" (The Game of the Invisible Messages).

In 2002, the City Council of Vigo, his home city, awarded him the title of "Distinguished Citizen of Vigo".

In 2002, with his own script, he directed his fifth film, and the second which followed the Dogma Movement, "Días de boda" (Wedding Days), once again obtaining the Official Certificate from Lars von Trier. He participated in over 20 international festivals and won the ACE Best Director Award presented by the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York. Javier Gurruchaga received the ACE Award for Best Actor from the same Association of New York for his work in the film. It was also nominated for the Rita Award for Best Film by the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival, the Golden Apple for Best Film by LaCinemaFe - Latin American Cinema Festival of New York and the Golden India Catalina for Best Film by the Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival.

In 2005, he wrote and directed his sixth feature film, "The Outcome" (El desenlace), with which he closed the official Dogma trilogy of Spanish cinema and obtained his third Official Certificate from the movement created by Lars von Trier. "The Outcome" triumphed at numerous international festivals and won several notable awards: Special Jury Prize at LaCinemaFe - Latin American Cinema Festival of New York, Extraordinary ACE Cinema Award 2006 for Juan Pinzás from the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York. ACE Best Actor Award for José Sancho from that same Association of New York. Best Script Award for Juan Pinzás from the Miami Latin Film Festival. Prize of Honor 2006 for Juan Pinzás at the New York Young Cinema in St. John's University of New York. Nominated for the Golden St. George for Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival.

In recent years Juan Pinzás has been the subject of retrospectives and tributes in various international festivals: Naples Film Festival 2003 (Retrospective and Tribute along with the filmmakers Carlos Saura and Peter Greenaway). Prague International Film Festival - Febiofest 2004 (Retrospective). LaCinemaFe - Latin American Cinema Festival of New York 2005 (Tribute and Retrospective). Ponferrada Film Festival, Spain, 2005 (Retrospective of Dogma trilogy and tribute). Athens International Film Festival - Platform 2006 (Retrospective of Dogma trilogy). École Supérieure d'AudioVisuel (ESAV) at the University of Toulouse le Mirail, France 2007 (Retrospective of Dogma trilogy and a conference with the students).

In Spain, in 2008, Juan Pinzás received the "Cultura Viva" National Film Award for the quality of his work as a film director. The Jury recognized his contribution to the most advanced cinematic tendencies.

In 2009, Juan Pinzás directing a feature length documentary “Las imágenes perdidas. La otra mirada” (The Lost Images. The Other View).

At present, Pinzás is preparing his eighth feature film, “La sombra de Nueva York” (The Shadow of New York) which he plans to shoot before the end of 2011, between Vigo and the Big Apple.

Juan Pinzás is the only Spanish director recognized officially during the historic stage of the Dogma 95 movement, the last European cinematic avant-garde, created by the Danish filmmakers Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.