I’m Fio Coto, a director and creative producer from Costa Rica, based in Madrid

I’m all about finding that emotional punch and groove—that rhythm that makes a piece feel alive, grounded, and full of atmosphere.

Since I was a kid, my life has been shaped by music, storytelling, and movement. I grew up singing trova—Silvio Rodríguez, Sabina, Alejandro Filio—and later fell deep into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a discipline that taught me how to read people, solve problems on the fly, and stay fully present. That blend of instinct and strategy naturally made its way into how I approach filmmaking: with sensitivity, physicality, and a lot of gut feeling.

I studied film in Costa Rica, then came to Spain to focus on directing and sound. Over the years, I’ve worked across Latin America and the U.S. with the NGO Chicas Poderosas, often juggling multiple creative roles at once. That’s where I first felt the pull to lead and shape my own vision. Later, I started Arara Films—a home for personal, bold projects with real emotional weight.

Even though I’ve built a solid path in production—and I do enjoy it—my real passion has always been directing. Whether it’s a music video, a branded film, or a short, I’m drawn to stories that breathe, move, and connect on a human level. For me, directing is not just about crafting images—it’s about listening, feeling, and making sense of this messy, beautiful thing we call being alive.