Q&A with NYFA Alumni Helena Sardinha and Rafael Thomaseto, the producing duo behind the SXSW feature film Satisfaction

In this Q&A, we chat with NYFA filmmaking alumni Helena Sardinha and Rafael Thomaseto, a producing duo from Brazil. From their time at NYFA to their recent success with their first feature Satisfaction at South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Helena and Rafael share their journey, their creative process, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Helena Sardinha: I'm originally from the south of Brazil, and prior to working in film, I was a dancer and performer trained by the Russian Bolshoi Theater. From a young age, I explored various forms of live performance art -including dance, theater, music, and circus - but ultimately felt that wasn't my true calling. Driven by a desire to find an artistic yet collaborative vocation, I discovered cinema. While studying filmmaking in Brazil, I found myself increasingly inspired by Hollywood and began dreaming of bigger opportunities. That's how I came across the New York Film Academy and made the decision to pursue my filmmaking career here.

Rafael Thomaseto: I was born and raised in the countryside of São Paulo, surrounded by family members who had immigrated from Italy. I was originally on track to work in the agricultural industry, but everything changed when I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. With a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication, focused on Advertising and Marketing, I arrived at NYFA for film school and quickly found myself drawn to producing.

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about the ongoing collaboration between the two of you? How did it all start?

Rafael and I met during the international orientation day and immediately gravitated toward each other since we're both from Brazil. We quickly developed a strong friendship, which naturally led us to collaborate on each other's projects, producing each other's mid-term and thesis films. We discovered a symbiotic energy in our collaboration, realizing our skills complemented each other exceptionally well. Communication was effortless because we shared the same values and creative vision.

The deep trust built from our friendship naturally carried into our professional partnership, further strengthening our bond. In 2018, while Rafael was studying film finance in London, he proposed the idea of starting a boutique production company. He called me to ask if I'd like to join him in this new venture, and that's how Driven Equation was born. Since then, we've collaborated on numerous projects, traveled extensively, and created countless memorable experiences together. Our latest feature, Satisfaction, recently premiered at SXSW.

Since then, we've worked on numerous impactful projects, to name a few:

• "Huella" (2022), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and won Best US Latina Director of a Live Action Short at the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival.

• "Beautiful, FL" (2023), a Disney Launchpad short currently streaming on Disney+, nominated for an NAACP Award for Best Digital Short Form Series, and showcased at festivals including Palm Springs ShortFest, Outfest, and the New York Latino Film Festival.

• "I Am the Nature" (2023), a documentary that premiered at DOC NYC, highlighting critical environmental themes.

• "The Mourning Of" (2024), awarded Best Live Action Short Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

• "Before You" (2024), produced in collaboration with Simbelle Productions and created in solidarity with Planned Parenthood.

• "The Ballad of Tita and the Machines" (2023), which premiered at Tribeca Festival, won Best Short Film at Outfest Film Festival, and received the Best Short Film award at the Brand Storytelling Sundance Film Festival. It was also showcased at special screenings, including the Toronto International Film Festival.

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about Satisfaction. How did you get involved in the project?

During the pandemic, Rafael was invited to join an organization called the Queer Producers Network. Through frequent Zoom meetings and a continuous exchange of emails supporting each other's career goals, one of our network members shared that filmmaker Alex Burunova was seeking queer producers for her feature film shooting in Europe. We connected via the Queer Producers Network and later met Alex in person at Cannes, discovering that we shared a mutual friend. After reading the script, we immediately recognized its importance—it was a compelling story about consent, inner strength, trauma, and relationship power dynamics. We knew we had to be involved.

NYFA Alumni Network: Satisfaction is your first narrative feature as a producing duo. Walk us through the experience producing a feature film and all that goes into it. Any challenges or surprises? 

Producing "Satisfaction," our first narrative feature as a duo, was an enriching experience filled with both challenges and surprises. We were immediately drawn to the deeply personal nature of the story, which explores female consent and the complexities of love and relationships. As producers, we value nuanced storytelling that tackles important, often overlooked themes. The film presented us with a meaningful opportunity to produce a women-led narrative with depth and emotional resonance, addressing topics that are timely and essential.

Beyond our creative passion for the project, "Satisfaction" offered an exciting international co-production opportunity. We navigated production across multiple countries, managing a diverse team from Ukraine, the UK, the U.S., Hungary and Greece. This required us to develop a deep understanding of varying cultural approaches to filmmaking, differing industry regulations, and unique communication styles. 

Handling sensitive subject matter also underscored the importance of creating a safe space for both cast and crew. We brought in Lucía Delgado and Tábata Cerezo from the Spanish company IntimAcT to support our production. Their primary role was mediating between Alex and the actors, ensuring clear and enthusiastic consent was established and maintained for every intimate scene. They provided crucial emotional support and precisely choreographed scenes to respect physical boundaries, reinforcing that consent could be withdrawn at any moment without repercussions. This consent-first approach helped foster an environment of mutual respect, safety, and open communication, allowing actors to deliver authentic performances confidently. 

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

NYFA taught us invaluable lessons that we've carried directly into this project and throughout our careers. Multicultural collaboration was a key takeaway—learning how to navigate and manage diverse teams and perspectives effectively, which became essential during the international production of our films.

Another crucial skill we gained was the ability to move swiftly and decisively when facing production challenges, honing a practical and efficient approach to problem-solving. 

Our producing instructor, Brendan Davis, was the first person to truly make us understand what production involves and how to approach it effectively. He sparked our interest in production, motivating us to focus on this area. Kim Ogletree’s classes on marketing short films expanded our perspective on distribution and sales strategy, equipping us with the practical knowledge required to market films successfully. Lastly, our first screenwriting teacher, Steven Morrison, introduced us to narrative structure and character development fundamentals. Not only did his classes help us appreciate nuanced storytelling, but he's now a valued collaborator whose insights continue to enrich our creative processes.

NYFA Alumni Network: Any advice for future producers?

 NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Helena and Rafael on all their success! 

You can watch Satisfaction + Q&A with filmmaker Alex Burunova at the American Cinematheque tomorrow, Wednesday March 26, 2025

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