Rafael Gomez (BFA Film & Television, ‘14) has been named a 2026 Cinematography Fellow of Project Involve, Film Independent’s renowned mentorship program which has fostered the careers of more than 1,000 filmmakers over the past three decades. As part of FTV LA, the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television’s ongoing partnership with Film Independent, Gomez is also the recipient of the inaugural TFTV Fellowship, a $10,000 unrestricted grant awarded to an outstanding TFTV alum participating in Project Involve.
Since graduating from TFTV 12 years ago, Gomez has built a career defined by collaboration and a deep commitment to craft, working as an editor, director of photography, and founding his production company, Cine Ceviche. His selection reflects both his professional evolution and a renewed desire to reconnect with the creative mindset that first drew him to filmmaking.
We caught up with Gomez to talk about his journey, the importance of community and mentorship, and what he’s looking forward to as a Project Involve Fellow.
Congratulations on being named a 2026 Cinematography Fellow of Project Involve and the recipient of the inaugural TFTV Fellowship! How does it feel to be recognized by such a prestigious program, and what does this opportunity mean to you at this stage in your career?
When I think about my selection for PI 2026 the most poignant emotion I feel is gratitude. My career has been an eventful journey with peaks and valleys, but this achievement confirms that my chosen path was well worth it. The fact that this is also the inaugural year for the partnership between TFTV and Film Independent feels like an inspired bit of cosmic timing. During my time at TFTV I was given the room I needed to grow as a young filmmaker and make what I like to call “good” mistakes – the kind you can learn from and recover. I’m thankful that TFTV has once again come into my life through this opportunity with Film Independent and Project Involve. I never expected this would happen almost 12 years after graduating from U of A, it really makes me reflect.
Following this career path as a filmmaker has allowed me to travel the world, meet some of my heroes, and develop as an artist and business owner. As a filmmaker I’ve worked in documentaries, commercials, and the music industry, but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to focus on narrative filmmaking for an extended period of time. Being accepted into Project Involve 2026 is an opportunity to do just that. It really feels like a full circle moment, and I’m more prepared than ever to reconnect with the goals I had as a young filmmaker at U of A.
What will your fellowship year look like, and what are you most excited to accomplish with Project Involve?
The year is shaping up to be one of my most productive yet! At this stage in the fellowship, we are developing the 5 scripts that will ultimately become narrative shorts when we go into production this summer. As a Cinematography fellow I’ve been able to sit in on development meetings with fellows in the Writing and Creative Executive (CE) tracks of the program. As the Writers and CEs refine the scripts during intense 3-hour development sessions, the rest of the cohort – Directors, Producers Editors, and Cinematographers – listens in and takes notes. The idea is that we will get an intimate view of all the scripts from their inception. Eventually, all fellows in each discipline will be attached to work on one script resulting in 5 filmmaking teams.
As exciting as this process is, the program’s real secret sauce is that we are all encouraged to have one-on-one coffee and lunch meetings with each other outside of regular fellowship functions. It’s like instantly expanding your network by 32 people in the blink of an eye! I can already tell you that this has been my favorite part of the process. You really begin to see the architecture for how you could end up collaborating with these filmmakers beyond Project Involve. More than just shooting a killer short film, I really hope to leave this program having made an authentic connection with as many of my cohort as possible.
You originally dreamed of being a writer/director but discovered your passion for cinematography during your time at TFTV. Can you share how that journey unfolded and what draws you most to the role of cinematographer?
What I learned while making films with my classmates at TFTV is that professional filmmaking is much more nuanced. I learned that the parts of filmmaking I loved most (camera work, lighting, and technology) were more commonly the purview of the cinematographer. While the director does have a great deal of input into these areas, it is the responsibility of the cinematographer as an artist and technician to execute and shape visual story-telling techniques. I have always enjoyed how cinematography challenges you to solve technical and logistical puzzles while still tapping into your intuition and emotions. Putting all this together to communicate an idea visually is a special kind of alchemy well-suited to my sensibilities.
Your career has spanned editing, cinematography, and running your own production company, which you’ve expanded into a full ‘soup-to-nuts’ operation for documentary-style commercials and branded content. How have these experiences shaped your path as a filmmaker and the kind of work you pursue today?
I think the experience of wearing all these different hats throughout my career has made me a much more independent type of filmmaker. It’s become clear to me that you don’t need to confine yourself to pre-existing paradigms to make a living as a visual artist. In fact, we live in a time in which the traditional structures of the film business are being turned upside down. Now more than ever is the time to experiment and build your own paradigm. I didn’t set out to create a production company—it has sometimes even sidetracked me from pursuing cinematography—but I did it out of necessity. Creating Cine Ceviche was an uncomfortable process but it has allowed me to be more in control of my own destiny and now gives me the flexibility to once again focus on cinematography. While my current focus is narrative filmmaking and developing as a cinematographer, my professional journey has taught me the importance of pursuing a diverse slate of work.
And a question we love to ask our alumni: who at TFTV inspired you and why, and what did you learn at TFTV that you value to this day?
There are so many faculty members that I want to mention! Prof. Yuri Makino provided me with my very first experience on a professional documentary film project which instilled lasting confidence. Prof. Michael Mulcahy sat with me and helped me cut down my junior documentary project which taught me the importance of digging deep during an emotional edit. Prof. Beverly Seckinger really challenged me to consider the moral implications of documentary filmmaking. Prof. Lisanne Skyler was such a welcoming presence in my Intro to Production classes and later a much-needed guiding light as I prepared for my post-grad life. Prof. Jacob Bricca helped me obtain a technical polish that really made the difference in my early career as an editor. Finally, Dan Brock, the recently retired TFTV film equipment manager, was a driving force for camaraderie across several generations of TFTV students. He taught me the importance of building a community.
We know you have maintained many connections with fellow alumni, including TFTV classmate and Project Involve alum Christopher Cegielski (BFA, Film & TV ’14). How have these relationships influenced your career, and what role has mentorship and collaboration played in your journey as a filmmaker?
Chris is the man! He and I supported each other greatly in our early filmmaking journeys. I learned about Film Independent through him when I worked in the camera department on his Project Involve film in 2016. My journey has been nothing but collaborations. I also have to mention Ethan Moore (BFA, Film & TV, ’13) who opened the doors to my first job opportunities in LA and became a business partner and a life-long friend. My classmate Benjamin Montemayor (BFA, Film & TV ’14) also remains a collaborator, business partner, and great inspiration to this day. Symeon Platts (BFA, Film & TV ’15) is a fellow DP who also contributed tremendously to my development as a narrative filmmaker. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these filmmakers, and our relationship through the years has shown me the importance of “dropping the ladder” and investing in the next generation of filmmakers and visual artists.
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