Pepe Rovano is an acclaimed Chilean film director, journalist, and researcher known for his socially driven documentaries and innovative use of immersive technology. He holds a PhD. in Interdisciplinary Studies on Thought, Culture, and Society (University of Valparaíso), currently working as an academic and researcher in the Digital Animation program at the Faculty of Architecture, Communication, and Design at the University of Viña del Mar. He was recently selected as a tutor for REAL 2025 – the documentary film academy of the Locarno International Film Festival (Switzerland).

Available for Q&As, Masterclasses, and workshops upon request, in English or Spanish.
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Rovano’s international filmography includes the award-winning L’eco della Bici (Italy, 2006). Other titles are Tawantinsuyo (Peru, 2006), Tres pasos para el retorno (Spain, 2009), and Ada (Italy, 2012).

He produced and directed the documentary series Sin Fronteras (La Red, 2017–2018). In 2018, he received the Chilean Ministry of Culture’s Artistic Development for Memory and Human Rights grant for his extended reality project Memorial Rocas XR. His work blends science, memory, and new media technologies. His immersive experiences include Biorremedición VR, Espectrales VR, and a VR360° series on the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

Bastard. The Legacy of Pinochet’s Genocide (2023) is his most recent documentary. It premiered at 15 international film festivals and has been praised for its bold confrontation of historical trauma.

As the founder and director of Totoral Films & Media Lab in Viña del Mar, Rovano continues to explore the intersection of XR, AI, and environmental and cultural storytelling.

In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Rovano holds a Master’s in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Ferrara (Italy) and a Journalism degree from Diego Portales University (Chile). He has been a research fellow at the University of Lugano (Switzerland).