ABOUT
My name is Joana Maria, I was born in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Ever since a small child, I was always been in touch with the arts, through the paintings and writings of my mother and theatre and music of my older sister. I found my path when I initiated the adventure of studying cinema, attending Universidade Lusófona, in Lisbon. It was there where I discovered my love in writing, directing, editing and photography.
(Yes, I'm a storytelling freak. I confess.)
I enriched my training with courses in Brussels, Cologne and Budapest specializing in directing which gave me the opportunity to direct my first financed fiction short film - WE ARE DESPERATE - by Europe Media Program and consequently my first short documentary - LIKE A TREE - shot in China by invitation of the program Looking China 2015.
Directing "WE ARE DESPERATE" short film
BTS "WE ARE DESPERATE"
Shooting "LIKE A TREE" in China
Presenting "LIKE A TREE" at Shortcutz Viseu
Exploring China for "LIKE A TREE" short documentary
I also ventured into an artistic residence in Barcelona - DYF: Design Your Future - which motivated me even more to use my art in favor of social activism and later was really important in the making of the video - SEE ACTIONS. NOT COLORS. - which I created still as a student as part of an awareness campaign for inclusion and won two prizes, one by the Council of Europe and another by Plural + organized by the United Nations.
Presenting "SEE ACTIONS. NOT COLOURS." at Paley Center for Media in New York.
Receiving the Danube Award at the United Nations in New York.
Presenting "SEE ACTIONS. NOT COLOURS." at Paley Center for Media in New York.
Already with a few short-films directed and written by me - including the award-winning short fiction films "OOBE", "WE ARE DESPERATE" and "SEE ACTIONS. NOT COLOURS." - I'm still working really hard to provoke emotions and tell stories, either with still or moving images.
Co-Directing "OOBE" short film with Manuel Carneiro
Directing the main actor Tiago Dias in "OOBE" short film
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