ABOUT

Catarina (Cat) Soares is a Brazilian director based between New York City and Paris. A graduate of the renowned Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, she began her career in front of the camera before transitioning behind it, building a strong foundation in storytelling through her Drama major.

At 15, Soares created her first short film. By the age of 16, she had completed three more, developed through the New York Film Academy’s programs in Florence and Paris (taking place at the renowned La Fémis film school). Her work is defined by a fearless approach to exploring taboo subjects, challenging emotional and societal boundaries.

Her most recent short film, Despair Came Knocking, received the Best Student Film award at the Ardélion European Film Association Awards. The film was also officially selected for the All American High School Film Festival—one of the world's most prestigious student film festivals—and earned Finalist status at the Ice Movie Awards. In addition, it was selected for the Red Movie Awards, International Indie Film & Screenplay Festival, and Indie Short Fest in Los Angeles. She is also currently a Teen Indie Awards nominee.

She is currently developing her debut feature film, with the goal of weaving together different lived experiences and cultures, hoping to inspire greater global empathy through cinema.