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Rafaela

Rafaela is a young girl from a dangerous neighborhood of Santo Domingo, who lives within a dysfunctional family, and dreams about moving to a better place with her mother.
When she grows up, she becomes the leader of a criminal gang that “Mario el Mago”, a known drug dealer of the neighborhood, wants to force to work for him.
Rafaela is constantly intimidated for being a woman they consider transgender, and that they can’t understand. And while the world around her gets more violent, she fights to find her identity.

  • Tito Rodriguez
    Director
    La Familia Reyna, Una fiesta Inolvidable
  • Cristian Mojica
    Writer
    Azul Magia
  • Danilo Reynoso
    Producer
    La Familia Reyna
  • Judith Rodriguez
    Producer
  • Archie Lopez
    Producer
    Jean Gentil, Lotoman
  • Judith Rodríguez
    Key Cast
    "Rafaela"
    Carpinteros (Woodpeckers), Cocote
  • Manuel Raposo
    Key Cast
    "Mario El Mago"
    Carpinteros (Woodpeckers)
  • Esmailyn Morel
    Key Cast
    "Carlos"
    Azul Magia
  • Marissabel Marte
    Key Cast
    "Adelaida"
  • Luinis Olaverria
    Key Cast
    "El Super"
  • Anderson Mojica
    Key Cast
    "El Montro"
    La Gunguna
  • Gerardo Mercedes
    Key Cast
    "Joselo"
  • Nicole Pujols
    Key Cast
    "Rafaela (as a Kid)"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Latin, Woman, Social
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 28, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    491,941 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Dominican Republic
  • Country of Filming:
    Dominican Republic
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • International Film Festival of India (IFFI, GOA)
    Panaji
    India
    November 21, 2021
    Indian Premiere
    Oficial Selection
  • International Film Festival of Panama
    Panama City
    Panama
    December 4, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Athens International Film + Video Festival
    Athens
    United States
    April 1, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Tito Rodriguez

Francisco Rodríguez (AKA: Tito Rodríguez), was born in San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic, on Sep/6/1977. He graduated from the Film School of Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. His first feature film “La Familia Reyna” (2015) won 15 prizes at “La Silla Film Awards of Santo Domingo and Audience Award at the Uruguay’s Festival del Mar film festival.

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Director Statement

We want to tell the story through the eyes of Rafaela; show how it is to be a little girl living in the streets of Dominican Republic. Little girls in extreme poverty and gender inequality, end up as victims of sexual exploitation, marriage and child labor.