Diretores

Born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1958, Pedro Costa is one of the most important names in contemporary cinema. He left his studies in history to attend classes taught by the poet and filmmaker António Reis at the Lisbon Film School. His first feature film, “Blood” (1989), was presented at the 15th Mostra and at the Venice International Film Festival. Following “Down to Earth” (1994, 18th Mostra), filmed in Cape Verde, Costa established an ongoing relationship with the Cape Verdean community in Portugal, which led him to the neighborhood of Fontainhas in Lisbon. The neighborhood and its residents became central to his filmography, in works such as “Bones” (1997, 21st Mostra), which won an Osella d’Oro at Venice, “In Vanda’s Room” (2000), and “Colossal Youth” (2006, 30th Mostra). He also directed “Where Does Your Hidden Smile Lie?” (2001), “Horse Money” (2014), which won the Best Director award at the Locarno Film Festival, and “Vitalina Varela” (2019), winner of the Golden Leopard and the Best Actress award, also at Locarno. At the 47th Mostra, Pedro Costa presented “The Daughters of Fire” (2023), his most recent work at the time, a short film.