Article
Personal, Poetical, Experimental, Unknown, Subtle
and Political: the films of Pedro Sena Nunes
Pedro Sena Nunes is a prolific and engaging film director, screen writer, producer and photographer. Based in his native Lisbon, his short films and documentary videos have gained him recognition and numerous awards in film festivals both nationally and around Europe. Portugal has been the subject for several of his works, with documentaries on little known areas of the country and its people, as well as two short fiction films which make stars of the charismatic and quirky public transport vehicles of Lisbon.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Pedro Sena Nunes
Film director, screen writer, producer, photographer, traveller and father
Completed the Cinema course at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema (Lisbon Superior School of Theatre and Cinema) in 1992, after leaving the Engineering ‘curse’. Is a co-founding member of Meridional Productions that develops cine-video-theatre activities between Lisbon and Madrid Livorno.
For four years, worked as an actor with the theatre group of the Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa (TUT) and participated in singular moments in films and television serials.
Between 1992 and 1997, took part in courses and workshops in cinema, photography, video, theatre and creative writing in cities such as Barcelona, Lyon, Sitges, Budapest, Lisbon, Glasgow and Florence.
In 1994, created the diaporama for the opera ‘Tordesyalta’ by Jorge Listopad.
During the Lisbon Capital of Culture 1994, represented Portugal in the areas of photography and cinema in the VII Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean. Also represented Portugal for cinema in the VIII Biennial in Turin.
Launched ten individual photography exhibitions and participated in several group photography exhibitions. Worked in several short films in European countries during his studies.
Directed the fiction short films, ‘Nunca Mais Te Livras de Mim’ (1992), ‘Eléctricos’ (1994), ‘As palavras derretem-se na água’ (1998), ’25 do 4 em 99’ (1999) and ‘Nómadas Urbanos’ (1999).
Successful candidate in the 1st European Course of Documentary Film, taking place in Berlin, Prague, Lisbon and Amsterdam, during 1995 and 1996 under the guidance of Michael Rabiger. Stemming from this course, his first documentary film ‘Margens’, dedicated to the Tras-ós-Montes province in the far north-east of Portugal, went on to be selected for and win awards at national and international cinema festivals.
Since 1994 directed and produced over sixty advertisements for both television and radio, with more emphasis on theatre, dance performances and festivals.
Receives scholarships from: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, European Programme Erasmus, Secretaria de Estado da Cultura, European Programme Kaleidoscope, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa and the European Artists Pépinières Programme.
Invited to attend several conferences on cinema and has on several occasions been a member of the jury for photography competitions, theatre, dance and film festivals.
In February 1997, after a European selection jury, was awarded a European Artists’ Pépinières residency at Glasgow Film and Video Workshop in Scotland. Completed ‘Fragments Between Time and Angels’ and ‘Impressions of the 3rd Day in Glasgow’.
In 1998 was invited to represent the new video generation in Expo’98 (Worldwide Exhibition in Lisbon) with ‘As palavras derretem-se na água’ and ‘Devaneios Flutuantes: Carlos Paredes’.
From 1994 to date, has been invited as a teacher to give practical workshops with various themes – Film Documentary; Dance Videos; Actors and Screens; Casting and Fragilities; Fiction in Documentary, at the Cultural Centre of Belém, Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema, Forum Dança, Instituto Piaget, Aula do Risco in Lisbon, Glasgow Film and Video Workshop, UK and Essen University, Germany.
In 1999 completed his film intervention ’25 do 4 em 99’, which is projected onto the facades of the old architecture of Lisbon city. Since 1999 is the author and producer of the Mostra de Vídeos em Efervescência – fifteen days of video with fiction, documentary, experimental and art. Filmed the fiction ‘Cacilheiros-Alerta’, part of the trilogy of the more charismatic public transport systems of Lisbon, ‘Eléctricos’ was completed in 1994.
In 2000, finished his last documentary ‘Entraste no jogo, tens de jogar, assim na terra como no céu’, dedicated to a religious and profane microcosm of the Minho province in the far north west of Portugal.
Between 1996 and 2000, collaborated with visual artists, choreographers, designers, actors and architects on a variety of projects, as well as directing shorts and documentaries for theatre and creating installations. Has been awarded several prizes in the fields of Photography, Video and Film.
Pedro was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on the 18th of May 1968 at 15.15pm, weighing 2.8kg.
Pedro Sena Nunes
Film director, screen writer, producer, photographer, traveller and father
Completed the Cinema course at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema (Lisbon Superior School of Theatre and Cinema) in 1992, after leaving the Engineering ‘curse’. Is a co-founding member of Meridional Productions that develops cine-video-theatre activities between Lisbon and Madrid Livorno.
For four years, worked as an actor with the theatre group of the Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa (TUT) and participated in singular moments in films and television serials.
Between 1992 and 1997, took part in courses and workshops in cinema, photography, video, theatre and creative writing in cities such as Barcelona, Lyon, Sitges, Budapest, Lisbon, Glasgow and Florence.
In 1994, created the diaporama for the opera ‘Tordesyalta’ by Jorge Listopad.
During the Lisbon Capital of Culture 1994, represented Portugal in the areas of photography and cinema in the VII Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean. Also represented Portugal for cinema in the VIII Biennial in Turin.
Launched ten individual photography exhibitions and participated in several group photography exhibitions. Worked in several short films in European countries during his studies.
Directed the fiction short films, ‘Nunca Mais Te Livras de Mim’ (1992), ‘Eléctricos’ (1994), ‘As palavras derretem-se na água’ (1998), ’25 do 4 em 99’ (1999) and ‘Nómadas Urbanos’ (1999).
Successful candidate in the 1st European Course of Documentary Film, taking place in Berlin, Prague, Lisbon and Amsterdam, during 1995 and 1996 under the guidance of Michael Rabiger. Stemming from this course, his first documentary film ‘Margens’, dedicated to the Tras-ós-Montes province in the far north-east of Portugal, went on to be selected for and win awards at national and international cinema festivals.
Since 1994 directed and produced over sixty advertisements for both television and radio, with more emphasis on theatre, dance performances and festivals.
Receives scholarships from: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, European Programme Erasmus, Secretaria de Estado da Cultura, European Programme Kaleidoscope, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa and the European Artists Pépinières Programme.
Invited to attend several conferences on cinema and has on several occasions been a member of the jury for photography competitions, theatre, dance and film festivals.
In February 1997, after a European selection jury, was awarded a European Artists’ Pépinières residency at Glasgow Film and Video Workshop in Scotland. Completed ‘Fragments Between Time and Angels’ and ‘Impressions of the 3rd Day in Glasgow’.
In 1998 was invited to represent the new video generation in Expo’98 (Worldwide Exhibition in Lisbon) with ‘As palavras derretem-se na água’ and ‘Devaneios Flutuantes: Carlos Paredes’.
From 1994 to date, has been invited as a teacher to give practical workshops with various themes – Film Documentary; Dance Videos; Actors and Screens; Casting and Fragilities; Fiction in Documentary, at the Cultural Centre of Belém, Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema, Forum Dança, Instituto Piaget, Aula do Risco in Lisbon, Glasgow Film and Video Workshop, UK and Essen University, Germany.
In 1999 completed his film intervention ’25 do 4 em 99’, which is projected onto the facades of the old architecture of Lisbon city. Since 1999 is the author and producer of the Mostra de Vídeos em Efervescência – fifteen days of video with fiction, documentary, experimental and art. Filmed the fiction ‘Cacilheiros-Alerta’, part of the trilogy of the more charismatic public transport systems of Lisbon, ‘Eléctricos’ was completed in 1994.
In 2000, finished his last documentary ‘Entraste no jogo, tens de jogar, assim na terra como no céu’, dedicated to a religious and profane microcosm of the Minho province in the far north west of Portugal.
Between 1996 and 2000, collaborated with visual artists, choreographers, designers, actors and architects on a variety of projects, as well as directing shorts and documentaries for theatre and creating installations. Has been awarded several prizes in the fields of Photography, Video and Film.
Pedro was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on the 18th of May 1968 at 15.15pm, weighing 2.8kg.
Author: Judith Staines
Bio
Pedro Sena Nunes is a successful and multi-talented film director living and working in Lisbon. Born in 1968, he studied cinema in Lisbon and worked for some years as an actor while taking courses in photography, video, creative writing, cinema and theatre. He achieved early recognition with his short film ‘Eléctricos’ (1994), which paid homage to the atmospheric 1930s wooden trams of Lisbon and won several awards.
In 1995, he was selected for the 1st European Documentary Film Course which took place in Berlin, Lisbon, Prague and Amsterdam under the direction of Michael Rabiger. The documentary film ‘Margens’, dedicated to a remote rural province of Portugal, came out of his participation in the course. The film went on to win many national and international awards including Best International Documentary at the Potsdam International Documentary Film Festival.
Sena Nunes works in film and video, making short films, documentaries, experimental works and dance videos. He has also directed and produced over sixty advertisements for television and radio, specialising in theatre, dance and festivals. Since 1993 he has made seven films and eighteen videos, winning many national and international awards.
Based in Lisbon, Sena Nunes also spends time in Viana do Castelo in Portugal where he gives cinema classes and programmes the documentary section of the cinema festival.
In 1995, he was selected for the 1st European Documentary Film Course which took place in Berlin, Lisbon, Prague and Amsterdam under the direction of Michael Rabiger. The documentary film ‘Margens’, dedicated to a remote rural province of Portugal, came out of his participation in the course. The film went on to win many national and international awards including Best International Documentary at the Potsdam International Documentary Film Festival.
Sena Nunes works in film and video, making short films, documentaries, experimental works and dance videos. He has also directed and produced over sixty advertisements for television and radio, specialising in theatre, dance and festivals. Since 1993 he has made seven films and eighteen videos, winning many national and international awards.
Based in Lisbon, Sena Nunes also spends time in Viana do Castelo in Portugal where he gives cinema classes and programmes the documentary section of the cinema festival.
Works
2Lux
Film / TV,
2003
Video - experimental
A Morte do Cinema
Film / TV,
2003
Film - Documentary
2menface
Film / TV,
2002
Dance-video
Palavras sem Rosto
Film / TV,
2002
Video - Experimental
Burdiao
Film / TV,
2002
Video - Experimental
Cacilheiros-Alerta
Film / TV,
2002
Film - Fiction
Homens Suspensos
Film / TV,
2001
Video - Experimental
Bebe Baba
Film / TV,
2001
Video - Experimental
Fragmentos do Esquecimento
Film / TV,
2001
Video - Fiction
Lugar a Danca
Film / TV,
2000
Video - Documentary
Nomadas Urbanos
Film / TV,
1999
Video - Fiction
25 do 4 em 99
Film / TV,
1999
Video - Experimental
Entraste no jogo, tens de jogar
Film / TV,
1999
Film - Documentary
Devaneios Flutuantes: Carlos Paredes
Film / TV,
1998
Video - Documentary
As Palavras derretem-se na agua
Film / TV,
1998
Video - Fiction
Impressoes do 3 dia em Glasgow
Film / TV,
1997
Video - Documentary
Fragments Between Time and Angels
Film / TV,
1997
Film - documentary.
Made at Glasgow Film and Video Workshops, Scotland, during a European Artists´ Pepinieres residency.
Materialidade Teatral
Film / TV,
1996
Video - Documentary
Filhos da Mae
Film / TV,
1996
Video - Fiction
Timor Loro Sa´e
Film / TV,
1996
Video - Documentary
Margens
Film / TV,
1995
Film - Documentary
Electricos
Film / TV,
1994
Film - Fiction
Efemeros Sentidos
Film / TV,
1993
Video - Fiction
Nunca mais te livras de mim
Film / TV,
1993
Film - Fiction
As Imagens de Peter Robinson
Film / TV,
1989
Video - Fiction
FORTHCOMING PROJECTS
Film / TV
- Several Films and Videos for Cinema and Video Festivals
- Premiere for the new video installation, FIAR2003, Festival of Arts, Palmela
- Premiere for the new project dance-video-music, Lisbon
Merits
FILM & VIDEO AWARDS
´Efemeros Sentidos´
1995 - Best Award, Biennale des Jeunes, Rijeka, Croatia
´Electricos´
1995 - Audience Award, 23rd International Short Film Festival, Algarve
1995 - Award for Best Fiction, International Festival of Kelibia
´Margens´
1995 - Award for Best Documentary & Award for Best Portuguese Documentary, VI Encontros Internacionais de Cinema Documental da Malaposta
1996 - Award for Best International Documentary, 25th International Documentary Festival, Potsdam
1996 - Award for Best Documentary Film, International Jury, 24th International Short Film Festival, Algarve
1996 - Award for Best Young Film Director & Award for Best National Film, 4th International Short Film Festival, Vila do Conde
1996 - Award for Best Portuguese Film, VIII Biennial of Young Artists of the Mediterranean
1999 - Special Jury Mention, 1 Semana Internacional de Documentario de Santiago
2000 - 1st National Award, Encontros Novos Criadores
´As Palavras derretem-se na agua´
1998 - Best Award, 3rd Festival de Video de Ovar-
´Devaneios Flutuantes: Carlos Paredes´
2000 - Award for Best Documentary, 2nd Festival Videocor
´Fragments Between Time and Angels´
1997 - 1st Award, 3rd Festival Internacional de Seia
1998 - Best Award, 4th Video Festival, Viana do Castelo
´Entraste no jogo, tens de jogar´
1999 - Audience Award, X Encontros Cinema Documental
1999 - 1st National Award, 2nd Festival Videolisboa
´Efemeros Sentidos´
1995 - Best Award, Biennale des Jeunes, Rijeka, Croatia
´Electricos´
1995 - Audience Award, 23rd International Short Film Festival, Algarve
1995 - Award for Best Fiction, International Festival of Kelibia
´Margens´
1995 - Award for Best Documentary & Award for Best Portuguese Documentary, VI Encontros Internacionais de Cinema Documental da Malaposta
1996 - Award for Best International Documentary, 25th International Documentary Festival, Potsdam
1996 - Award for Best Documentary Film, International Jury, 24th International Short Film Festival, Algarve
1996 - Award for Best Young Film Director & Award for Best National Film, 4th International Short Film Festival, Vila do Conde
1996 - Award for Best Portuguese Film, VIII Biennial of Young Artists of the Mediterranean
1999 - Special Jury Mention, 1 Semana Internacional de Documentario de Santiago
2000 - 1st National Award, Encontros Novos Criadores
´As Palavras derretem-se na agua´
1998 - Best Award, 3rd Festival de Video de Ovar-
´Devaneios Flutuantes: Carlos Paredes´
2000 - Award for Best Documentary, 2nd Festival Videocor
´Fragments Between Time and Angels´
1997 - 1st Award, 3rd Festival Internacional de Seia
1998 - Best Award, 4th Video Festival, Viana do Castelo
´Entraste no jogo, tens de jogar´
1999 - Audience Award, X Encontros Cinema Documental
1999 - 1st National Award, 2nd Festival Videolisboa
Www
Short Films - Portugal
Films by Pedro Sena Nunes
