Biography

Rolando Gil is an award-winning filmmaker whose current project, Quadrant D, based on a true story about the past horrors of prison life in Puerto Rico for many inmates and the victory of the human spirit.

Gil, who has been working on this feature film since 2014, began researching many books and journals about the Puerto Rican correctional system, which was established by Spain during the 1700s when the first jail was built on the island. Gil researched materials and local news video footage at the Puerto Rico National Archives and the University of Puerto Rico library. He interviewed reporters, hostages, guards and inmates. In addition, Gil spent six months visiting inmates in their own cells, working hard to getting to know them and gaining their trust to get the most accurate story.

A native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Gil grew up in the neighborhood of Santana. It should be no surprise that Gil was drawn to film at an early age, since Santana is home of the longest-running drive-in movie theatre in Puerto Rico, Auto Cine Santana. As a youth, he spent much time watching movies and participating in theatre, either acting or coordinating some of the productions. He also devoted a lot of time to writing when inspired by his surroundings. After graduating high school with honors, Gil was admitted to Universidad Politecnica in Hato Rey, P.R., where he started his engineering studies.

Gil's determination and resolve perhaps can also be traced to his hometown's spirit. Arecibo is the site of one of Puerto Rico's greatest battles, in 1702 when Puerto Rican hero Captain Antonio de los Reyes Correa of the Spanish Army drove off a British Navy invasion by ambushing forces led by rear-admiral William Whetstone.

This son of Arecibo got his start as a filmmaker after being inspired while volunteering directing a play that raised funds for a local church. The play project took a year to plan and produce, with a packed house of 465 attending opening night. Gil took that experience and inspiration and decided to pursue a filmmaking career.

Following his passion to make films, Gil moved to Naples, Florida, where he enrolled in an English course to master the language. Gil then moved to Charlotte, where he earned a degree in Filmmaking at the Art Institute of Charlotte (AIC) in 2014. Within six months at AIC, Gil had submitted a music video and short film for competitions, and earned his first nomination for his professional work. His music video was nominated at the Manifesto Film Festival in Charlotte and his (first) short film won Bronze Award for Best Narrative Short Film at the UNC Charlotte Film Festival.

Gil was featured in the 2014 Joedance Film Festival in Charlotte with his short film Filius. Filius, based on a true story, in which a father loses his only daughter and was not able to overcome the loss, won Best Student Film at the Rincon International Film Festival in Puerto Rico (considered one of the top 25 film festivals in the United States). Filius' award earned Gil a scholarship at the New York Film Academy University. While at Rincon, Gil met many filmmakers, producers and directors, one of whom offered Gil a job on some major commercials in Charlotte and Boston.

All of this work and preparation led him to produce a film and story that he's carried around in his soul for years, the story of Quadrant D.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bert Woodard

Rolando Gil is a proven filmmaker who was recently selected one of the best 48 directors worldwide to participate in Oscar-winning director Werner Herzog's intense directing workshop.

Gil currently is working on a true story based on illegal immigration from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. Nine five people who embarked in this boat to Puerto Rico got lost at sea ran out of gas. Only five survived, by eating some of the other victims.

A native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Gil grew up in the neighborhood of Santana. It should be no surprise that Gil was drawn to film at an early age, since Santana is home of the longest-running drive-in movie theatre in Puerto Rico, Auto Cine Santana. As a youth, he spent much time watching movies and participating in theatre, either acting or coordinating some of the productions. He also devoted a lot of time to writing when inspired by his surroundings. After graduating high school with honors, Gil was admitted to Universidad Politecnica in Hato Rey, P.R., where he started his engineering studies.

Gil's determination and resolve perhaps can also be traced to his hometown's spirit. Arecibo is the site of one of Puerto Rico's greatest battles, in 1702 when Puerto Rican hero Captain Antonio de Los Reyes Correa of the Spanish Army drove off a British Navy invasion by ambushing forces led by rear-admiral William Whetstone.

This son of Arecibo got his start as a filmmaker after being inspired as a volunteer directing a play that raised funds for a local church. The play project took a year to plan and produce, with a packed house of 465 attending opening night. Gil took that experience and inspiration and decided to pursue a filmmaking career.

Says Gil: "The manifestation of life's struggles is always combined to the survival instincts of each living creature in this world. The will to survive is what we all share in common, making life so unique and inspiring in itself."

Following his passion to make films, Gil moved to Naples, Florida, where he enrolled in an English course to master the language. Gil then moved to Charlotte, where he earned a degree in Filmmaking at the Art Institute of Charlotte (AIC) in 2014. Within six months at AIC, Gil had submitted a music video and short film for competitions, and earned his first nomination for his professional work. His music video was nominated at the Manifesto Film Festival in Charlotte and his first short film won Bronze Award for Best Narrative Short Film at the UNC Charlotte Film Festival.

Gil was featured in the 2014 Joedance Film Festival in Charlotte with his short film Filius. Filius, based on a true story in which a father loses his only daughter and was not able to overcome the loss, won Best Student Film at the Rincon International Film Festival in Puerto Rico (considered one of the top 25 film festivals in the United States). Filius' award earned Gil a scholarship at the New York Film Academy University. While at Rincon, Gil met many filmmakers, producers, and directors, one of whom offered Gil a job on some major commercials in Charlotte and Boston.

His 2019 Joedance Film Festival entry, Stop Asking for Permission, is a short film that tells the story of a television studio, moments before going live, which has a delay occur due to a missing camera operator. This moment is perfect for a female production assistant, who had been asking to run one of the cameras for weeks. As the director keeps telling her no, she takes the risk that will change her life.

Rolando Gil may now live far from his beautiful island roots, but he's always going to keep Puerto Rico close to his heart and a frequent beneficiary of his hard work and talent, including his next project which tells the story of the agonizing immigration journey of Dominicans to Puerto Rico.

"Since I was younger, I've heard about the Dominican people who sacrifice their lives to make the journey to Puerto Rico in these illegal immigration trips," Gil said. "It takes a lot of courage to do this journey through the dangerous waters of the Mona Passage, the strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. I flew to the Dominican Republic and covered more than 600 miles to the north of the island. After meeting some of the survivors, hearing their stories of the horrific experiences they had endured, but seeing in their eyes hope for the future, I was more inspired than ever to tell their story.

"I know that is the definition of the Caribbean people. We never lose the hope, and as long we can breathe and walk we will make it. As a Puerto Rican, I saw the connection with our neighbors, the Dominican people. I'm confident this story will touch people all over the world."
- IMDb mini biography by: Bert Woodard

Rolando Gil is a Puerto Rican director and screenwriter, born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. From a young age, his passion for cinema was evident, inspired by the films he watched from his home, located right across from the Santana drive-in theater. Rolando began his studies in Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Hato Rey but decided to pursue his true calling: filmmaking. He moved to North Carolina, where he specialized in directing and screenwriting.

One of his early short films, Filius, won several awards at international film festivals and was even presented as far as India. Another notable short film, Stop Asking for Permission, was made by invitation from Kodak in Atlanta to support shooting on film format.

In 2018, Rolando was selected to participate in a prestigious directing workshop led by acclaimed director Werner Herzog. The workshop, held in the Peruvian Amazon for 15 days, gave him the unique opportunity to learn directly from Herzog and collaborate with filmmakers from around the world, enriching his creative vision and cinematic perspective.

His latest film, Ma, Despierta, is a deeply personal project shot in his hometown of Arecibo. The film tells the story of a 40-year-old woman with Down syndrome who wakes up one day to find that her mother, has passed away. The plot follows her struggle to survive until a neighbor comes to rescue her.

Rolando is known for his ability to create moving stories that explore themes of resilience, identity, and human connection. As a filmmaker, he is committed to showcasing the talent and stories of his hometown, Arecibo, highlighting its potential as a cinematic setting.
- IMDb mini biography by: Rolando Gil