Rafaela Gonçalves, A Creative Force Bridging Worlds
When I sat down with Rafaela Gonçalves, I didn’t feel like I was interviewing someone, it felt like catching up with a friend. We laughed, we reflected, and we got deep about what it really takes to carve out a space in an industry that often tells us to shrink ourselves.
Rafaela’s journey started with a dream: she moved to the U.S. wanting to become “the next Latina Hannah Montana.” Like many of us, she quickly realized that dream wasn’t going to come easily. The roles offered to Latina women were stereotypical, the classes pushed her to reduce herself, and she found herself wondering if she had to let go of parts of who she was just to fit in. “I realized I’m never not going to be Brazilian,” she told me. “So why not create opportunities that reflect who I am, and bring my community with me?” That mindset became the foundation for her work. Instead of waiting for doors to open, she built her own.
Her debut short film, “If the Shoe Fits,” wasn’t meant to be groundbreaking, it started as a thesis project during her master’s program. But inspired by her father’s advice that “people are like shoes… sometimes no matter how badly you want it to fit, it just won’t,” Rafaela wrote a story that became deeply metaphorical. What began as a drama grew into something more experimental; a psychological body-horror short, drawing from her love of visuals and inspirations like Black Swan and Scorsese’s The Big Shave. “I wanted language not to be a barrier,” she said. “I wanted anyone, anywhere to understand this story.” Circumstances have forced her into wearing every hat at once, writer, director, producer, and even lead actress after her original star dropped out. “It was out of necessity,” she admitted. “But it taught me so much. Producing is really about problem-solving, about embracing mistakes and turning them into better ideas.” That resilience resonated. The film went on to win awards across international festivals, from Venice Under the Stars to IndieFEST and Film Invasion LA. But what mattered more to Rafaela wasn’t the trophies, it was the connection. “It wasn’t just about romance,” she explained. “It was about every time you try to force yourself into something that doesn’t fit, friendships, family, work. I wanted people to reflect and realize they deserve better.”
Photo Credit: Sharis Daneri Photography
Her second short, “Someone in Me,” now in post-production, is a return to her roots in the most literal way. At just 15 years old, Rafaela published a bestselling novel in Brazil, a story about a girl with heterochromia navigating bullying and belonging. That book led to her being invited as a torchbearer for the 2016 Rio Olympics, long before film was even on her horizon. Now, ten years later, she has adapted the story into a film that explores dual identity: a young girl raised Brazilian in America, torn between two worlds but learning to embrace both. “It’s a full-circle moment,” Rafaela said, smiling. “That 15-year-old me just wanted to bring her imagination to life. Now, those same ideas are what fuel me as a producer and filmmaker.”
Rafaela’s growth is also marked by her transition into feature films. She is co-producer and lead actress in Blow for Blow, a martial-arts feature directed by Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Rigan Machado, an 8th-degree red and white coral belt, renowned in both martial arts and cinema circles.
“Working with Rigan was inspiring,” she shared. “His background is so impressive, and I learned so much from being part of that process. The biggest difference from my shorts was that this time, I had help. I had a team.”
That simple shift, from doing everything herself to collaborating with seasoned professionals, marks a turning point. It shows how far she’s come, not just as a filmmaker but as a leader who thrives in collaboration.
What stands out most in Rafaela’s story isn’t just her talent, but her heart. She’s driven by a desire to uplift her community to create opportunities not only for herself but for other actors, producers, and storytellers who might otherwise go unseen. “We can’t wait around for opportunities. We have to create them,” she insists.
When I asked her how people can support her, her answer was simple: watch the films I produce or star in, stay connected, and share the work. She uses her social media to post tips on production, acting, and writing offering transparency and encouragement to anyone dreaming of breaking into the industry.
Photo Credit: Sharis Daneri Photography
By the end of our conversation, what struck me most was not Rafaela’s long list of accomplishments though publishing a book at 15, carrying the Olympic torch, and producing award-winning films is no small feat. What struck me was her unwavering belief in herself.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?” she said. And she’s right.
Her story is proof that our differences are our strengths, that sometimes wearing every hat is just part of survival, and that when we stop waiting for permission and start building our own paths, we create not just art but inspiration.
Talking with Rafaela reminded me of something I think we both live by: being delusional enough to believe in yourself isn’t a weakness, it’s the first step toward making the impossible real.
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