He belonged to the literary group ‘Vasudeba' (1956-1957) and the ‘Sardio' group and magazine (1958-1962). He was also founder of ‘El techo de la Ballena' (1963-1968) and creator of the ‘Rocinante' magazine (1969-1978). As a contributor for the literary and cultural pages of diverse newspapers, he used the Atilio Rey pseudonym in his press writings.

He has been awarded two short-story prizes by El Universal (1957) and the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) (1958). His work has been translated into English, German, Arab, Japanese, and Italian. In 1974 he founded the Committee of Latin American Film Directors, and he is a charter member of the New Latin American Cinema Foundation, and a member and directive of its Superior Council. Former director-general of the ‘Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión' (EICTV) [International Film and Television School ] of San Antonio de Los Baños, Cuba , from 2000 to 2002. Additionally, he is director of the New Latin American Cinema Foundation in Mérida , Venezuela , from where he has promoted the publication of works relative to this matter.

As a film director, he won the prizes for the best film and the best film script of the 1994 Libertador Municipality Town Council for the film Simón Bolívar, ese soy yo [It is Me, Simón Bolívar]. Also the CONAC National Cinema Prize, the 1991/1994 ‘Monseñor Pellín' National Cinema Prize and the Person of the Year in Cinema Award.

Published works: Alias el Rey del Joropo [Alias the King of ‘joropo'] (1997 ), Bolívar, de San Jacinto a Santa Marta; [Bolívar, from San Jacinto to Santa Marta] Poetic anthology (La vida a la muerte unida: 1958-1999) [Life to Death United]: Manuela Sáenz, ésa soy yo [It is Me, Manuela Sáenz] (2000), Simón Rodríguez, ése soy yo (2000); José Martí, ése soy yo (2002), Sucre, ése soy yo (literary script or cinematographic novel); Libro de Héroes [The Book of Heroes] (2004), Tierra Negra, Tierra Roja [Black Land, Red Land], José Martí, Versos Epistolares [Epistolary Verses] (unpublished); Adiós, Colombia [Goodbye, Colombia] (unpublished). Bolívar, el martirio de la gloria [Bolívar, the Torture of Glory] (unpublished).