Rodrigo Carvalhedo is an LA-based writer-director, originally from São Luís, a tropical island in Northeastern Brazil. His passion for storytelling inspired him to publish a sci-fi novel at 17. With an academic background that ranges from Engineering, Graphic Design, Writing and Animation, he has acquired a variety of skills and perspectives.

      Carvalhedo is a UCLA alum, where his animation pilot Enchanted Isle received the award for Best TV Comedy at the UCLA Screenplay Competition. Since then, his work has accrued accolades in several screenwriting competitions, ranking as some of the top projects on Coverfly.

      As a gay man raised in a machismo culture, Rodrigo writes about characters who navigate the struggle to be their authentic selves. Wishful Thinking, his directorial debut, is his personal coming-out letter to his family. His goal is for the vulnerable, real-life aspect of the film to impact LGBTQ+ youth, especially those in places that remain closed-minded.

      Rodrigo aims to tell stories that build bridges of empathy and hope.