Meet Bruna Cabral

We were lucky to catch up with Bruna Cabral recently and have shared our conversation below.

BRUNA, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

As a creative producer, I keep my creativity alive by immersing myself in different forms of storytelling. I read books and watch movies and TV shows from different genres, cultures, countries, and eras to learn from their techniques. I like listening to people’s stories and always take notes when something sparks my interest. I follow artists and other sources of inspiration on social media to stay connected with new ideas, trends, and creative movements. Additionally, I keep up with current events and read the news, as it helps me stay informed and find real-world inspiration for my work. Constantly feeding my curiosity ensures my creativity remains fresh and evolving.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an award-winning filmmaker from Rio de Janeiro, driven by a deep passion for storytelling that elevates underrepresented voices. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in business and management of entertainment, producing, and directing. I’m passionate about impactful narratives.

My directorial debut, Piece of Me, which I wrote and produced, garnered critical acclaim, securing nominations at 35 festivals, including the Academy Award-Qualifying Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, and winning 12 awards globally. The film is about an elderly lady starting to have Alzheime’rs and her best friend, an 8-year-old boy, fighting to keep their friendship alive. I’m super proud of this project.

Headway, a film that I produced and one of my favorites, premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival and won 12 awards. My work earned me the Best Producer award at the Queen Palm International Film Festival. The story is about an 11 eleven-year-old boy who deals with the singularities of autism and a late 30’s MMA fighter who faces the delicate moment of retirement. Both stories converge in a deep and exciting encounter, which triggers in each other the solutions to overcome their issues. The film is based on true characters.

I have a script in development about organ donation that I believe is incredibly important because it raises awareness, encourages conversations, and can inspire people to take action. Through storytelling, it has the power to humanize the issue, show the impact it has on both donors and recipients, and highlight the life-saving potential of organ donation. It can help break down misconceptions and encourage more people to consider becoming donors, ultimately saving more lives.

I have an animation in pre-production about how family love is essential. It beautifully captures the evolving roles within a family and highlights the cyclical nature of love, responsibility, and support that binds families across generations.

I’m committed to supporting female filmmakers, so I always ensure my projects are showcased at prominent festivals, such as the Hollywood Women’s Film Festival and La Femme International Film Festival. I also served as a jury member at various international film festivals, reinforcing my dedication to advancing diverse storytelling.

My long-term goal is to build a production company that champions the voices and stories of women and underrepresented groups.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are my ambition, passion, and fearlessness. Leaving behind my law career to dive into the world of entertainment was a bold step, but I’ve never shied away from pursuing what truly moves me. My openness to learning, expressing ideas, and collaborating with new people has fueled my growth as a producer. I’ve always believed in motivating those around me, treating everyone with kindness regardless of their position, and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. These values have shaped my path and continue to inspire me every day.

My advice for those early in their journey is to embrace boldness and follow what truly excites you. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, even if it means leaving something secure behind. Be open to learning from everyone around you, and don’t hesitate to share your ideas. You’ll grow through collaboration. Treat everyone with kindness, regardless of position, as strong relationships are invaluable. Most importantly, don’t fear mistakes. You should view them as opportunities to learn and improve. Stay passionate, keep pushing, and trust that your ambition will guide you toward success.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I think it is important to become more well-rounded by improving areas where you’re not as strong because it fosters growth and adaptability. Strengthening your weaker skills helps you overcome challenges more effectively, broadens your perspective, and makes you a more versatile professional. It also boosts confidence, as you become capable of tackling a wider range of tasks and situations. By investing in self-improvement, you open yourself up to new opportunities, expand your potential, and ultimately become a more valuable contributor to any team or project.

After producing for a while, I realized how crucial it was to understand the directing process, not just from a technical standpoint, but also to foster better collaboration as a creative producer. To bridge that gap, I studied directing, working on my creativity and ensuring I could “speak the same language” with directors when necessary. It was a transformative experience. I learned a lot, and it allowed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I even directed my own film, which was a rewarding achievement, and I’m proud of the skills I developed along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brunacabral.film
• Instagram: @brumcabral
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruna-cabral-52a91737/