Best Brazilian Directors of All Time (Melhores Diretores Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos)

1. Anselmo Duarte

Duarte left his hometown, at 14, and moved to São Paulo where he started working as a typist in an accounting office. In the early 1940s, after graduating in Economics, he went to Rio de Janeiro, where he had a bit-part on It's All True (1943). He then made some appearances in radio soap operas and...

2. Carlos Manga

Director | Um Só Coração

Carlos Manga was born on January 6, 1928 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for One Heart (2004), Vamos com Calma (1956) and O Marginal (1974). He was married to Inalda de Carvalho and Denise. He died on September 17, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de ...

3. Luiz Carlos Barreto

Writer | Casa de Areia

Luiz Carlos Barreto was born on May 20, 1928 in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil. He is a producer and writer, known for Casa de Areia (2005), Isto É Pelé (1974) and Four Days in September (1997).

4. Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Director | Memórias do Cárcere

Nelson Pereira dos Santos was born on October 22, 1928 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Memórias do Cárcere (1984), O Amuleto de Ogum (1974) and Tenda dos Milagres (1977). He was married to Ivelise Ferreira. He died on April 21, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, ...

5. Walter Hugo Khouri

Director | O Último Êxtase

Walter Hugo Khouri was born on October 21, 1929 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for O Último Êxtase (1973), O Anjo da Noite (1974) and Iguassu: The Devil's Throat (1960). He died on June 27, 2003 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

6. Antunes Filho

Director | Compasso de Espera

Antunes Filho was born on December 12, 1929 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Compasso de Espera (1969), Grande Teatro Tupi (1951) and O Contador de Histórias (1955). He died on May 2, 2019 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

7. Ruy Guerra

Director | Estorvo

Ruy Guerra left his studies in Portugal for to go to the School of Cinema in Paris. After having worked as assistant for various French directors he moved to Brasil and participated with his first two films in the birth of the "Cinema Novo": "Os Cafajestes (1962)" and "Os Fuzis (1964)" which won ...

8. Antonio Abujamra

Actor | Festa

Antonio Abujamra was born on September 15, 1932 in Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and actor, known for Festa (1989), Super Plá (1969) and Os Adolescentes (1981). He died on April 28, 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

9. Herval Rossano

Director | A Escrava Isaura

Herval Rossano was born on April 23, 1933 in Campos dos Goitacases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and actor, known for The Slave Isaura (2004), Caminos cruzados (1994) and A Sucessora (1978). He was married to Mayara Magri, Nívea Maria and Doris Guerrero. He died on May 8, 2007 in São ...

10. Eduardo Coutinho

Director | Edifício Master

Eduardo Coutinho was born on May 11, 1933 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Edifício Master (2002), Santo Forte (1999) and Babilônia 2000 (1999). He was married to Maria das Dores de Oliveira. He died on February 2, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

11. Ademar Guerra

Director | Grande Teatro Tupi

Ademar Guerra was born on September 10, 1933 in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for Grande Teatro Tupi (1951), Urgente (Um Namorado Para Sheila) (1959) and Gente Como a Gente (1963). He died on February 19, 1993 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

12. Walter Avancini

Director | Rabo-de-Saia

Walter Avancini was born on April 18, 1935 in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for Rabo-de-Saia (1984), Boca de Ouro (1990) and A Deusa Vencida (1965). He was married to Débora Fuchs. He died on September 26, 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

13. Domingos de Oliveira

Writer | Todas as Mulheres do Mundo

Domingos de Oliveira was born on September 28, 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a writer and actor, known for Todas as Mulheres do Mundo (1966), Amores (1998) and Barata Ribeiro, 716 (2016). He was married to Priscilla Rozenbaum, Leila Diniz and Nazareth Ohana. He died on ...

14. José Celso Martinez Corrêa

Actor | O Rei da Vela

José Celso Martinez Corrêa was born on March 30, 1937 in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and director, known for O Rei da Vela (1983), 25 (1977) and Prata Palomares (1972). He died on July 6, 2023 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

15. Daniel Filho

Director | Malu Mulher

Daniel Filho - Responsible for triggering an aesthetic revolution in Brazilian TV during the 1970s, he became a Midas of popular cinema in Brazil during the 2000s. He created one blockbuster after another, many adapted from the theatre. The "Se Eu Fosse Você" (If I Were You) franchise (2006-09), ...

16. Zelito Viana

Director | Avaeté - Semente da Vingança

Zelito Viana was born on May 5, 1938 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil as José Viana Paula de Oliveira. He is a director and producer, known for Avaeté - Semente da Vingança (1985), Morte e Vida Severina (1977) and Villa-Lobos - Uma Vida de Paixão (2000). He is married to Vera Maria de Paula.

He was ...

17. Walter Lima Jr.

Director | A Ostra e o Vento

Walter Lima Jr. was born on November 26, 1938 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for The Oyster and the Wind (1997), Os Desafinados (2008) and Plantation Boy (1965). He was previously married to Telma Costa and Anecy Rocha.

18. Glauber Rocha

Director | Terra em Transe

He studied Law. He also directed theatre pieces, wrote movie criticisms and took part in the creation and development of the 'cinema novo' movement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, becoming its theoretical leader and first embassador in Europe. After "Barravento (1962)", a trilogy of films and "Antonio ...

19. João Batista de Andrade

Director | O Homem que Virou Suco

João Batista de Andrade was born on December 14, 1939 in Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for O Homem que Virou Suco (1980), Doramundo (1978) and The Next Victim (1983).

20. Carlos Diegues

Director | Xica da Silva

Carlos Diegues was born on May 19, 1940 in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. He is a producer and director, known for Xica (1976), O Maior Amor do Mundo (2006) and Better Days Ahead (1989). He has been married to Renata Maria de Almeida Magalhães since 1982. They have one child. He was previously married to ...

21. Arnaldo Jabor

Writer | Toda Nudez Será Castigada

Arnaldo Jabor was born on December 12, 1940 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a writer and director, known for All Nudity Shall Be Punished (1973), Tudo Bem (1978) and I Love You (1981). He was married to Suzana Villas Boas. He died on February 15, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

22. Celso Nunes

Actor | Flora

Celso Nunes was born in 1941 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He is an actor, known for Flora (1996), Passo a Passo com as Estrelas (1994) and Você Também Pode Dar um Presunto Legal (2006).

23. Neville de Almeida

Director | Matou a Família e Foi ao Cinema

Neville de Almeida was born in 1941 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Killed the Family and Went to the Movies (1991), Rio Babilonia (1983) and The Seven Kittens (1980).

24. Ugo Giorgetti

Director | Festa

Ugo Giorgetti was born in 1942 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Festa (1989), Boleiros: Era Uma Vez o Futebol... (1998) and Sábado (1995).

25. Carlos Reichenbach

Cinematographer | Alma Corsária

Carlos Reichenbach was born on June 14, 1945 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Buccaneer Soul (1996), Dois Córregos: Verdades Submersas no Tempo (1999) and Lilian M.: Relatório Confidencial (1975). He was married to Lygia ...

26. José Joffily

Director | Quem Matou Pixote?

José Joffily was born on November 27, 1945 in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. He is an actor and director, known for Who Killed Pixote? (1996), Blue Eyes (2009) and A Maldição do Sanpaku (1991).

27. Hector Babenco

Director | Carandiru

Hector Babenco was born on February 7, 1946 in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a director and writer, known for Carandiru (2003), Pixote (1980) and Foolish Heart (1998). He was married to Bárbara Paz, Xuxa Lopes and Raquel Arnaud. He died on July 13, 2016 in São Paulo, São Paulo, ...

28. Júlio Bressane

Director | Educação Sentimental

Júlio Bressane was born on February 13, 1946 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Sentimental Education (2013), Tabu (1982) and A Love Movie (2003).

29. Rogério Sganzerla

Director | O Bandido da Luz Vermelha

Rogério Sganzerla was born on May 4, 1946 in Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for The Red Light Bandit (1968), O Signo do Caos (2005) and A Mulher de Todos (1969). He was married to Helena Ignez. He died on January 9, 2004 in São Paulo, Brazil.

30. Dennis Carvalho

Director | Celebridade

Dennis Carvalho was born on September 27, 1947 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He is a director and actor, known for Celebrity (2003), JK (2006) and Songs of Betrayal (2010).

31. Roberto Talma

Director | O Profeta

Roberto Talma was born on April 29, 1949 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for The Prophet (2006), Negócio da China (2008) and Agora é Que São Elas (2003). He was married to Maria Zilda Bethlem. He died on April 23, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, ...

32. Silvio Tendler

Director | Os anos JK - Uma Trajetória Política

Silvio Tendler was born in 1950 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Os anos JK - Uma Trajetória Política (1981), Jango (1984) and Castro Alves - Retrato Falado do Poeta (1999).

33. Murilo Salles

Director | Como Nascem os Anjos

Murilo Salles was born in 1950 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Como Nascem os Anjos (1996), Happier Than Ever (1984) and Seja o Que Deus Quiser! (2002).

34. Marcos Paulo

Director | A Indomada

Marcos Paulo was born on March 1, 1951 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and director, known for A Indomada (1997), Port of Miracles (2001) and Federal Bank Heist (2011). He was married to Antônia Fontenelle, Flávia Alessandra, Renata Sorrah, Márcia Mendes and Belisa Ribeiro. He died...

35. Wolf Maya

Director | Senhora do Destino

Wolf Maya was born on September 10, 1953 in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. He is a director and actor, known for Her Own Destiny (2004), Kubanacan (2003) and Hilda Hurricane (1998).

36. Guel Arraes

Director | O Auto da Compadecida

Guel Arraes was born on December 12, 1953 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for A Dog's Will (2000), Lisbela and the Prisoner (2003) and Grande Sertão (2023). He has been married to Carolina Jabor since 2003. He was previously married to Virginia Cavendish and ...

37. Elias Andreato

Actor | Beleza Pura

Elias Andreato was born on March 8, 1955 in Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil. He is an actor and writer, known for Pure Beauty (2008), Irmãos de Fé (2004) and Sai de Baixo (1996).

38. Bruno Barreto

Director | Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos

Bruno Barreto was born on March 16, 1955 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and producer, known for Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976), Reaching for the Moon (2013) and Four Days in September (1997). He was previously married to Amy Irving.

39. Fernando Meirelles

Director | The Constant Gardener

Fernando Meirelles was born in a middle class family in São Paulo City, Brazil.

He studied architecture at the university of São Paulo. At the same time he developed an interest in filmmaking. With a group of friends he started producing experimental videos and video art. They won a huge number of ...

40. Walter Salles

Director | Central do Brasil

Walter Salles was born on April 12, 1956 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and producer, known for Central Station (1998), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) and Terra Estrangeira (1995). He is married to Maria Klabin. They have one child.

41. Jayme Monjardim

Director | Pantanal

Jayme Monjardim was born on May 19, 1956 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He is a director and producer, known for Planet of the Pantanal (1990), The Clone (2001) and Olga (2004). He has been married to Tânia Mara since March 10, 2007. They have one child. He was previously married to Daniela ...

42. Jorge Furtado

Writer | O Homem Que Copiava

Jorge Furtado was born on June 9, 1959 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He is a writer and director, known for The Man Who Copied (2003), Houve uma Vez Dois Verões (2002) and Meu Tio Matou um Cara (2004).

43. Luiz Fernando Carvalho

Director | Lavoura Arcaica

Carvalho studied Architecture and Literature. For cinema, still very young, in 1984, wrote and directed the short film "A Espera", based on "A Lover's Discourse: Fragments ", by Roland Barthes, which won the best film, actress and photography awards [Concha de Oro] at the 34th Festival de San ...

44. Ricardo Waddington

Director | A Favorita

Ricardo Waddington was born on December 22, 1960 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and producer, known for The Favorite (2008), Cabocla (2004) and Precious Pearl (2013). He was previously married to Helena Ranaldi and Lídia Brondi.

45. Cao Hamburger

Writer | O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias

Cao Hamburger was born in São Paulo, Brazil. Since the 1990s, he has divided his time into film and television creations.

He has won two International Emmy Awards. In 2019, for the Young Hearts series, created and written by him. In 2014, for the series Pedro e Bianca, created and supervised by him. ...

46. Beto Brant

Director | O Invasor

Beto Brant was born in 1964 in Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for The Trespasser (2001), Belly Up (1997) and Cão Sem Dono (2007).

47. José Padilha

Producer | Tropa de Elite

He is best known for directing the Brazilian critical and financial successes Elite Squad and Elite Squad: The Enemy Within and the 2014 remake of RoboCop. He has won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Elite Squad in 2008. He is also the producer and director of the ...

48. Andrucha Waddington

Director | Casa de Areia

Andrucha Waddington (born January 20,1970) is a Brazilian film director, producer, and screenwriter.

His several film credits include "Me You Them" (2000), Mention spéciale of Un Certain Regard in Cannes, an Official Selection of Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals, Brazil's official entry to the ...