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El Canto de los Coquis

El Canto de los Coquis is an MFA short film that follows the journey of Elena, a young Puerto Rican American woman who is visiting her family in Puerto Rico for the first time. Her excitement for the land and culture are shaken when her dual identity creates a rift of not being American or Latina enough. Through the support of those around her, Elena discovers the joy in finding who we are and the acceptance in learning we are always searching for those answers. No matter what, the people we surround ourselves with and their love will always fill us with the sense of returning home.

  • Natalia Fuentes
    Writer
  • Rachel Dolan
    Executive Producer
  • Tobi Oladipo
    Producer
  • Rachel Dolan
    Key Cast
    "Elena"
  • Valeria Tannuzzi
    Key Cast
    "Valeria"
  • Juan Edenhofer
    Key Cast
    "Luis"
  • Delvin Burgos
    Key Cast
    "Alejo"
  • Andrew Ramcharan
    Key Cast
    "Dean Pereira"
  • Rachel Dolan
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 4 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    1,700 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Savannah College of Art and Design
Director Biography - Rachel Dolan

Rachel Colette Dolan is an American actress currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She began performing on stage at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia when she was 16 years old. Rachel studied theater and acting at Temple University in Philadelphia, graduating with her Bachelor's Degree in Theater with a concentration in Acting in Spring 2019. She enjoys discovering new aspects of theater and film while gaining new skills for both screen and stage. She is also passionate about using her work to promote underrepresented stories and voices as well as social justice issues. Rachel has worked on multiple short films during her time at SCAD, as well as her MFA thesis film, “El Canto de los Coquis.” She is looking forward to gaining her MFA in Performing Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

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Director Statement

The process of creating this story began after searching for plays to consider for my MFA thesis project. I decided the story I wanted to tell surrounded the exploration of identity, something very close to my own life and experiences. I also wanted to share a story for an audience and culture that remains sparse in tv and film, so that our voices, our look, and our stories are communicated and celebrated. Collaborating with a dramatic writing student at SCAD, the script for “El Canto de los Coquis” was created after meetings and drafts of what we wanted to communicate and how we wanted to celebrate the culture and what it is to be human.
This story is vital for me to create for myself and my audience. Coming from a background where I am half white and half Puerto Rican, there was a constant dissonance growing up of who I believe myself to be and how others saw me. This story is for countless people who have felt they must fit into boxes because they have been told they must. For people who belong to countless places and cultures and find the joy in that identity. It is for the individuals who are searching or who have found themselves and in understanding we are never alone in the journey. In a time where peoples have faced constant exclusion and fear, this story is presented to celebrate the journey of finding our way and connecting with the things that are most important in life.