Rachel Rambaldi (she/her) is a first-generation Italian writer/director based in Los Angeles. Growing up in Los Angeles and her homeland of Italy allowed her to stay connected to her roots which have significantly impacted her artistry and perspective. Rachel’s short film, Cream or Sugar,(co-written with Sar Artoonian) digs into human identity within colonial structures and premiered at OUTFEST Film Festival 2022. Her storytelling focuses on the human experience through dark comedy and satire. The essential ingredient to Rachel is that her work bares the human spirit. Her background also includes self-expression art facilitation within the autistic, non-verbal community. At the Legacy Center, a non-profit organization that focuses on elevating standards for the neuro-diverse community, she founded and facilitated an art program that functioned from 2017-2020. Working with people who needed access to communication devices to express themselves deepened her listening ability. This opportunity gave her a unique insight into another layer of humanity which ultimately strengthened her collaboration process with actors. Rachel believes life experience makes you a stronger storyteller and has always pushed herself personally and creatively outside her comfort zone to gain new perspectives.
 

From standing on a forty-foot ladder to black-out windows as a G/E Swing to delivering vegan chilly up a snowy, muddy hill as a Production Assistant on an Indie Feature in Wales, England. Rachel was adamant about knowing how every department functions on a film set; she knew this would also be a key to more decisive leadership. While writing and directing her films, she has also produced micro-documentaries and brand films for Samsung, ADL (Anti-Defamation League), and the Gender Cool Project with Chicago-based creative agency Swissa Creative, inc. She’s a self-taught 35mm film photographer with a self-portrait published in F-STOP magazine in 2020. Rachel was the only student in her college class to direct a thesis on 16mm film.  Self-starting has been her foundation since the age of twelve when she picked up a camera for the first time. Rachel believes creating opportunities to do what means the most to you is the greatest investment. Her short film HERLY recently premiered at the 2023 CinemaFemme Film Festival in Chicago and won her a mentorship with Stephanie Filo (Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Black Lady Sketch Show)