Rodrigo Carvalhedo is an LA-based writer-director from São Luís, a tropical island in Northeastern Brazil. He is drawn to magical realism as a lens to explore the human heart.

        His animation pilot Enchanted Isle received the award for Best TV Comedy at the UCLA Screenplay Competition and garnered interest from major studios. He wrote, co-directed, and starred in his award-winning short film Wishful Thinking, which he created to share with his family as his real-life coming-out letter. The film has accrued international appraisal in festivals and been highlighted at NALIP’s Celebration of Latino Excellence. His latest short film, Musings, started its festival circuit with its World Premiere at LALIFF.

        Carvalhedo writes characters on the journey to their authentic selves, exploring themes of identity and belonging based on his lived experiences. He is committed to telling stories that build bridges of empathy.