Cineastas Brasileiros

1. Mario Peixoto

Director | Limite

With just one film Mario Peixoto left a mark on cinema with his acclaimed masterpiece Limit (1931). The surrealistic and artistic film launched his film career but unfortunately due to several circumstances he never managed to release another film and outdo himself. Many Brazilian filmmakers were ...

2. Humberto Mauro

Director | Braza Dormida

Pioneer of Brazilian cinema. Humberto Mauro began his career in the provinces in 1926 and was brought to Rio de Janeiro by producer-director Adhemar Gonzaga in 1930. He went on to direct several features which were praised for their uniquely Brazilian style - notably Ganga Bruta (1933) - as well as...

3. 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, ...

4. 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 ...

5. 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.

6. 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 ...

7. 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 ...

8. Marcos Farias

Producer | Fogo morto

Marcos Farias was born in 1935 in Santa Catarina, Brazil. He was a producer and writer, known for Fogo morto (1976), A Cartomante (1974) and Bububu no Bobobó (1980). He died in 1985 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

9. Miguel Borges

Writer | Consórcio de Intrigas

Miguel Borges was born on February 21, 1937 in Picos, Piauí, Brazil. He was a writer and director, known for Consórcio de Intrigas (1980), Pecado na Sacristia (1975) and Perpétuo Contra o Esquadrão da Morte (1967). He was married to Maria Elisa Garcia. He died on June 17, 2013 ...

10. 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 ...

11. Joaquim Pedro de Andrade

Director | Macunaíma

Joaquim Pedro de Andrade was born on May 25, 1932 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Macunaima (1969), Guerra Conjugal (1974) and The Brazilwood Man (1982). He was married to Cristina Aché, Sarah de Castro Barbosa and Ana Maria Galano. He died on September 10, 1988 ...

12. Leon Hirszman

Director | Eles Não Usam Black-Tie

One of the most important Brazilian directors of all time, Leon Hirszman is best remembered for the realistic manner of dealing with social and political themes in his works, from documentaries to feature films. His career started with a segment filmed for Cinco vezes Favela (1962) and The Deceased...

13. 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.

14. 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).

15. Ody Fraga

Writer | Mulher Tentação

Ody Fraga was born on October 15, 1927 in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He was a writer and director. He died in 1987.

16. 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).

17. 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.

18. Roberto Farias

Director | Pra Frente, Brasil

Roberto Farias was born on March 27, 1932 in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Go Ahead, Brazil! (1982), O Fabuloso Fittipaldi (1973) and Cidade Ameaçada (1960). He died on May 14, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

19. Reginaldo Faria

Actor | Quem Tem Medo de Lobisomem?

Reginaldo Faria was born on June 11, 1937 in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is an actor and writer, known for Quem Tem Medo de Lobisomem? (1975), Barra Pesada (1977) and Lucio Flavio (1977). He has been married to Vânia Dotto Alves since October 2005. He was previously married to Rosa ...

20. 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 ...

21. José Mojica Marins

Actor | Encarnação do Demônio

José Mojica Marins was born on March 13, 1936 in San Paulo, Brazil, to a family of simple means. José's love of movies began at an early age. He spent a great deal of his time with his family at the local movie house, which his father helped manage. By the time he was eighteen, he had completed ...

22. Moacyr Fenelon

Director | Obrigado, Doutor

Moacyr Fenelon was born on November 5, 1903 in Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for Obrigado, Doutor (1948), Fantasma Por Acaso (1946) and Gente Honesta (1944). He died on August 14, 1953 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

23. José Carlos Burle

Director | Depois Eu Conto

José Carlos Burle was born on July 19, 1910 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Depois Eu Conto (1956), É com Este Que Eu Vou (1948) and O Gol da Vitória (1945). He died on October 23, 1983 in Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil.

24. Watson Macedo

Writer | Rio, Verão & Amor

Watson Macedo was born in 1918 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a writer and director, known for Rio, Verão & Amor (1966), É Fogo na Roupa (1952) and Rio Fantasia (1956). He died on April 8, 1981 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

25. Adhemar Gonzaga

Producer | Alô Alô Carnaval

Adhemar Gonzaga was born on August 26, 1901 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a producer and actor, known for Alô Alô Carnaval (1936), Pif-Paf (1945) and Loucos Por Música (1945). He was married to Didi Viana. He died on January 29, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de ...

26. Luiz de Barros

Director | Alvorada da Glória

Luiz de Barros was born on September 12, 1893 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and editor, known for Alvorada da Glória (1931), Cavaleiro Negro (1923) and Vivo ou Morto (1916). He was married to Gita de Barros. He died in 1982 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, ...

27. 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 ...

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. Paulo César Saraceni

Director | A Casa Assassinada

Paulo César Saraceni was born on November 5, 1933 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for The Murdered House (1971), O Viajante (1998) and Capitu (1968). He was married to Ana Maria Nascimento e Silva. He died on April 14, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

31. 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 ...

32. Mauro Farias

Director | Não Quero Falar Sobre Isso Agora

Mauro Farias is known for Não Quero Falar Sobre Isso Agora (1991), Faça Sua História (2008) and Duas Vezes com Helena (2002). He has been married to Heloísa Périssé since 2004. They have one child. He was previously married to Melanie Dimantas.

33. Maurício Farias

Director | Tá no Ar: A TV na TV

Maurício Farias was born in 1960 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for On Air: TV on TV (2014), Veronica (2008) and Slaps & Kisses (2011). He has been married to Andrea Beltrão since 1994. They have three children.

34. Lui Farias

Director | Com Licença, Eu Vou à Luta

Lui Farias was born in 1958 in Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Com Licença, Eu Vou à Luta (1986), Minha Fama de Mau (2019) and Os Porralokinhas (2007). He has been married to Paula Toller since 1987. They have one child.

35. 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).

36. João Moreira Salles

Director | Nelson Freire

João Moreira Salles was born in 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and producer, known for Nelson Freire (2003), Santiago (2007) and No Intenso Agora (2017). He was previously married to Branca Viana.

37. Fábio Barreto

Director | Índia, a Filha do Sol

Fábio Barreto was the youngest son of a well-known family of producers in Brazil, including his grandmother Lucíola Villela, father Luiz Carlos Barreto and mother Lucy Barreto. He acted in his brother Bruno's first short when he was 9 years old, and since then became active in the Brazilian film ...

38. Luiz Sérgio Person

Director | Cassy Jones, o Magnífico Sedutor

Luiz Sergio Person (1936-1976) crossed the Brazilian cultural scene like a comet. He acted, wrote, directed and produced works of both cinema and theatre, worked as a commercial director and journalist. He established one of the most solid bodies of work in Brazilian cinema with only five feature ...

39. 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).

40. Anselmo Duarte

Writer | O Pagador de Promessas

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...

41. Alberto Cavalcanti

Director | O Canto do Mar

Born in Brazil in 1897, Alberto Cavalcanti began his film career in France in 1920, working as writer, art director and director. He directed the avant-garde documentary Nothing But Time (1926) ("Nothing but Time"), a portrait of the lives of Parisian workers in a single day. He moved to England in...