Masterclass with Kleber Mendonça Filho

Born in Recife, Brazil, Kleber Mendonça Filho became a film programmer and critic while making award-winning short films. 

Neighboring Sounds, Mendonça’s first feature film, had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2012 and was Brazil’s entry for the Oscars. The New York Times listed it among the ten best films of the year. Aquarius, starring Sonia Braga, was in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. It was nominated for a César Awards and na Independent Spirit Awards. In 2019, Bacurau, co-directed by Juliano Dornelles, screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Jury Prize. In 2023, Mendonça Filho released Pictures of Ghosts, which was selected as Brazil’s official submission to the 2024 Oscars. The Secret Agent (2025), starring Wagner Moura, premiered at Cannes, where it won Best Director, Best Actor, and the FIPRESCI Prize. It also gardered four nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best International Film, Best Actor and Best Casting) and won 2 Golden Globes (Best International Film and Best Actor). Kleber is also a film programmer for Instituto Moreira Salles and the artistic director of Janela Internacional de Cinema do Recife.