Octavio Rodríguez studied journalism at the Catholic University Andrés Bello in Caracas, and filmmaking at the National Audiovisual School (ENSAV) in Toulouse, France, and at the University of Cinema Film School (FUC) in Buenos Aires. His career spans Europe and Latin America and his work includes independent films, video projects and children’s TV shows. As a filmmaker, Octavio explores the encounter of different cultures and notions of life, always questioning our ideas about the “real world”. El hijo de la serpiente (Son of the Serpent), Octavio’s debut feature film, is a fantasy drama inspired by forbidden legends of the Colombian-Venezuelan Andes. His most notable works include the short film Histoire d’un tango (2012), selected by the ENSAV to represent the institution at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. In addition, his feature-length documentary The Heart of Caracas (2014) was released in theaters in Venezuela, won the Municipal Award for Best Documentary and was screened in London, Havana and Saint-Étienne.

El hijo de la serpiente (Son of the Serpent) — Juan, a boy who blames himself for his mother’s death, defies the curse of the Black Lagoon to bring her back.