Born and raised in Brazil, I earned my MFA at Columbia University (New York City) and now call Toronto home. Having worked across multiple countries—including the US, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, and Argentina—my storytelling is enriched by diverse cultural perspectives. Turns out, broadening horizons works wonders for plot twists.

I'm perfectly happy writing solo—but very few things beat the magic of a well-oiled writers' room in full flow. I've worn many hats—from Staff Writer to Head Writer—whether jumping into projects at the very beginning, stepping in midway, or steering a creative team. Any scenario suits me, as long as the coffee's flowing. Lots of coffee.

I've tackled everything from musicals (Netflix), broad comedies (Netflix), and coming-of-age dramas (HBO), to medical thrillers (Prime Video). I love mixing genres to explore fresh storytelling possibilities. But I'm especially drawn to crafting nuanced, counterintuitive characters—often outsiders who never quite fit in. Maybe it's my past life as an actor, my current one as an immigrant, or simply my soft spot for misfits.

My indie films have screened at over 50 festivals worldwide, from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs Shortsfest. I especially enjoy directing non-professional actors—bringing out authentic performances that reflect my perspective as a director from the Global South, attuned to stories of inequality and disparity. Being on set keeps my storytelling sharp and offers a nice change of pace—after all, procrastinating is a lot tougher when there's a whole crew waiting on you.

Most of my work is in TV and film, but I'm always intrigued by emerging formats and technologies. Currently, I'm leading a research project on the intersection of AI and storytelling. I've also written an award-winning transmedia project recognized by Cannes Lions, Clio, and the One Club.

I’m a tenure-track Screenwriting professor at York University, where I’m a member of the Connected Minds Enhanced Hire initiative, a Research Associate at Sensorium and a Fellow at CERLAC (Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean). With over a decade of mentoring and teaching filmmakers, I’ve learned that balancing academia and industry keeps me sharp—and ensures I’m never short of fresh stories to share from both sides of the classroom.

Yep, that's true—I acted professionally from childhood into my mid-20s, on TV, stage, and countless commercials. Thankfully, most footage is buried somewhere online. Acting profoundly shaped my understanding of drama, but these days, I happily stay behind the scenes.