Raphael Alvarez is an award-winning Puerto Rican director and producer whose films have been featured in festivals around the world. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Bayamón, a municipality in the northern part of the island. His passion for the arts started at an early age. He was heavily inspired by the films of directors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg.
At the age of 18, Alvarez moved to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a director. He attended the University of Miami where he majored in Film & TV production. He also studied at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California.
Alvarez’s first feature film, “The Flight of the Butterfly,” was released in 2014. The film tells the story of a young man from Puerto Rico, struggling to find his place in a new country. It was nominated for Best Feature Film at the Miami International Film Festival and won the Best Feature Film award at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
In 2016, Alvarez released his second feature film, “The Little Prince,” which garnered him an award at the San Diego Latino Film Festival for Best Feature Film. The film follows the story of a young Puerto Rican girl who must find her way in a foreign and unfamiliar land.
Alvarez’s latest feature film, “The Kingdom of Dreams,” was released in 2019. The film follows the story of a young girl from a small town in Puerto Rico who must find a way to make her dreams come true. The film won the Best Feature Film award at the San Diego Latino Film Festival.
Alvarez’s films have been screened in festivals all over the world, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the London Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. He also directed the music video for the song “Fuego” by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Eladio Carrion.
Alvarez is also a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and the Director’s Guild of America. His work has been praised for its authentic portrayal of Puerto Rican culture and for its powerful storytelling. With each new project, Alvarez continues to push the boundaries of cinema and tell stories that matter.
