Carlitos Ruiz-Ruiz is a Puerto Rican filmmaker known for telling stories that capture the unique idiosyncrasies of the Caribbean experience, focusing on Puerto Rico's biggest currency, its people. His debut feature film Maldeamores (2007), executive produced by Benicio Del Toro and starring actor Luis Guzmán, won several international awards and was Puerto Rico’s submission for Academy Award consideration. His upcoming feature Summer of Three (2026), premiered at the Tribeca Festival and took home the Best Screenplay and Best Performance prizes.