Professional Bio:

Brian Robau is a Cuban-American two-time Student Academy Award winning director. In 2016 he won a Student Academy Award for his film It's Just a Gun which went on to be nominated for a College Television Award and was an Official Selection at the Telluride Film Festival. His recent film Esta Es Tu Cuba, won a Student Academy Award in 2018, as well as a Student DGA award, a College Television Award, and was nominated for a Student BAFTA. The film is inspired by his father’s story and the story of the over 14,000 Cuban refugee children of Operation Pedro Pan. It is currently available on HBO Latino and HBOGO. Other awards include, Best Student Short at the American Pavilion at Cannes, WindRider Best Student Short at Sundance, and winner of the HBO Ibero-American Short Film Award at the Miami Film Festival, LA Shorts Best of Show, Global Shorts Winner Best in Show and Best Student Film at the SCAD Film Festival, two-time winner of Best Student Short at the Ojai Film Festival, Best Student Short and Best Short Drama at the Breckenridge Film Festival.

Brian received an M.F.A. in directing from Chapman University's Dodge College of Media Arts. Born and raised in Miami, he currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Follow Brian on Instagram @brian.robau

Filmmaker Interview with Brian Robau

Brian Robau directed “Esta Es Tu Cuba,” which won Best Short Drama at Breck Film’s 2019 festival.

1. Tell us your backstory. How and why did you get into filmmaking?

I’ve always loved stories and play. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, I spent a lot of my early childhood on my parent’s tree farm. There wasn’t much to do, so I spent most of my time playing pretend. Looking back that time spent imagining where my first attempts at storytelling. My joy and passion for acting soon led me to an interest in directing. After my first couple attempts with my friends I was hooked and by the end of high school I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.

2. What are the specific qualities that, in your opinion, make a film great?

I love a film that reveals something about my humanity through great characters. A great film should be a relationship, meaning there’s more to the film than simply what it presents on the surface. It’s requires you to reach out and confront it with your own ideas about the world. It requires you to go beyond the images and words and look within. With those films there is always more to be discovered and it’s significance evolves and grows over time. That’s what keeps me coming back.

3. What’s harder? Getting started or being able to keep going? And what drives you to continue making films?

If you don’t have a community of people around you starting can be the very difficult. However, every time you embark on a new film you’re starting over, applying things you’ve learned, facing new and greater challenges, but at least you’re not facing them alone. I’m very grateful to have an amazing community of people that I work

with starting with Dan Klein(writer) and John Sayage (producer). They and many others prop me up and make me better.

I think what drives me is the hope that I can graze the surface of some truth and hopefully better understand the world and myself in it. Perhaps it’s also a desire to be heard and understood.

4. How many films have you completed? What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

I’ve made two short films so far. They’ve both been fulfilling in their own ways. Certainly the most personal one has been ‘Esta Es Tu Cuba’. The film was inspired by my father’s story and the stories of over 14,000 Cuban children that fled to the US on their own during the Cuban Revolution. Not only was I able to learn more about my father and his story, but I was also able to share my community’s history and culture with others. Witnessing people see themselves on screen and seeing them empowered and validated enough to share their own stories has been the most fulfilling filmmaking experience so far.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I’ve learned that an idea can come from anywhere- an article, a conversation, a word scribbled on a bathroom wall. It you let it, a mundane moment can blossom into an idea. For myself, that’s only possible if I remain open as I move through the world. I’ve found it important to nurture that openness, so you’re ready to receive when inspiration knocks.

6. What is your favorite aspect of film production?

I love working with actors. My favorite part of directing is creating a space where actors feel comfortable to try out ideas, follow their instincts, and make themselves vulnerable. That’s when the magic happens.

7. You are a collaborator. Did you make any connections at the Breckenridge Film Festival that have led to collaborations with other filmmakers?

My time at Breckenridge Film Festival was incredible. Not only were my hosts and festival coordinators incredibly welcoming but I also met lots of talented filmmakers who inspired me with their work. The best part was being able to share ideas and learn from each other.