Rodrigo Moreno-Fernández Immigrant / Writer / Director
Rodrigo Moreno-Fernández (Writer, Director, Producer, Editor) is based in southern Texas. After immigrating from Mexico in 2006, the self-taught filmmaker made his directorial debut with the indie feature THE WHOLE. He received the 'First Time Director Award.' from the London Independent Film Awards and the 'Best Screenplay Award' from the Reel East Texas Film Festival.
His short films Ramona and Strings also received awards and accolades including The 2023 Best Texas Filmmaker at the Austin Revolution Film Festival and The Indie Spirt Award at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in 2023.
Rodrigo spent seven years as an illegal immigrant until he managed to secure deferred status during the Obama administration, allowing him to stay in Texas and work. Married with a three-year-old child with no papers or money, Rodrigo could not attend film school. He taught himself to film and tell stories by reading everything he could get his hands on and by listening to other filmmakers discuss their processes. Despite his struggles, he saved enough money to buy a second-hand camera, and he started making videos; for himself and later for those that might hire him for commercial work. Through this, he learned (by trial and error) how to light, shoot, and block actors, and he also learned to write scripts. Eventually, his commercial work began winning awards.
One day he asked his wife permission to use their life savings to make a movie. She said yes, and from then on, became his producer. Together they managed to produce one feature film and two short narratives. Rodrigo's work has been programmed into festivals around the world. He recalls not having a work permit for his first invitation to a festival and could not confirm his attendance as director because of it. Today, he is proud to hold 22 awards for his work and, more importantly, to call himself a filmmaker.
