Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Biography

Nelson Pereira dos Santos ComRB • OMC (São Paulo, October 22, 1928 — Rio de Janeiro, April 21, 2018) was a Brazilian film director, producer and screenwriter. Having been one of the founders of the Cinema Novo movement, his production spans a period of 60 years in the history of Brazil.

Considered one of the most important filmmakers in the country, he was strongly influenced by the works of the 1930s generation of Brazilian literary modernism, having adapted works by Graciliano Ramos and Jorge Amado for cinema. His film Vidas Secas, based on Graciliano's novel, is one of the most awarded Brazilian films of all time, being recognized as a masterpiece. In 2006, he was elected Immortal by the Brazilian Academy of Letters, a position he held until his death in 2018.

2013		A Luz do Tom...Director
2012		The Music According to Tom Jobim...Director
2007		Português - A Língua do Brasil...Director
2006		Brasília 18%...Director
2004		Raízes do Brasil...Director
2001		Meu Compadre, Zé Ketti...Director
2001		Casa Grande & Senzala...Director
2001		Casa Grande & Senzala...Director
1995		Cinema of Tears...Director
1994		The Third Bank of the River...Director
1987		Jubiabá...Director
1984		Memories of Prison...Director
1982		Insônia...Director
1982		A Missa do Galo...Director
1980		The Highway of Life...Director
1980		Um Ladrão...Director
1977		Tent of Miracles...Director
1974		The Amulet of Ogum...Director
1972		Who Is Beta?...Director
1972		Jornalismo e Independência...Director
1972		Uma Mensagem de Chico Xavier...Director
1971		How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman...Director
1970		The Alienist...Director
1968		Hunger for Love...Director
1967		El Justicero...Director
1966		Fala Brasília...Director
1965		O Rio de Machado de Assis...Director
1964		A Seventy-Four Year-Old Fellow...Director
1963		Barren Lives...Director
1963		Golden Mouth...Director
1961		Red Mandacaru...Director
1957		Rio, Northern Zone...Director
1955		Rio, 100 Degrees F°...Director
1951		O Saci...Assistant Director
1949		Juventude...Director

Writing

2012		The Music According to Tom Jobim...Screenplay
2006		Brasília 18%...Writer
1995		Cinema of Tears...Screenplay
1994		The Third Bank of the River...Screenplay
1987		Jubiabá...Writer
1984		Memories of Prison...Writer
1982		Insônia...Writer
1982		A Missa do Galo...Writer
1980		Um Ladrão...Writer
1977		Tent of Miracles...Writer
1974		The Amulet of Ogum...Writer
1972		Who Is Beta?...Writer
1971		How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman...Writer
1970		The Alienist...Screenplay
1968		Hunger for Love...Writer
1967		El Justicero...Writer
1964		A Seventy-Four Year-Old Fellow...Writer
1963		Barren Lives...Screenplay
1963		Golden Mouth...Writer
1961		Red Mandacaru...Writer
1957		Rio, Northern Zone...Screenplay
1955		Rio, 100 Degrees F°...Screenplay
1955		Rio, 100 Degrees F°...Story

Production

1988		Sonhei com Você...Producer
1987		Jubiabá...Executive Producer
1984		Memories of Prison...Producer
1982		O côco do Macalé...Producer
1982		Go Ahead, Brazil!...Assistant Production Manager
1975		As Aventuras Amorosas de um Padeiro...Producer
1974		The Amulet of Ogum...Producer
1967		El Justicero...Producer
1967		A Public Opinion...Producer
1965		The Hour and Turn of Augusto Matraga...Associate Producer
1961		Red Mandacaru...Producer
1958		O Grande Momento...Producer

Crew

1974

The Amulet of Ogum...Cinematography

Camera

1972

Uma Mensagem de Chico Xavier...Camera Operator

Editing

1968		Cantores e Trovadores...Editor
1966		Fala Brasília...Editor
1964		Absolute Majority...Editor
1962		Five Times Favela...Editor
1962		The Turning Wind...Editor
1962		Menino da Calça Branca...Editor

Acting

2025		Amuletoas
2023		Nelson Pereira dos Santos – A Life of Cinemaas Self (archive footage)
2021		Já que Ninguém me Tira Para Dançaras Self
2021		The Good Cinemaas Self
2021		Nelson Filma o Rioas Self (archive footage)
2020		Candango: Memoirs from a Festivalas Self (archive footage)
2019		Memórias do Grupo Opiniãoas Self (archive footage)
2018		A música que meu pai gostavaas
2017		Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Centuryas Self
2016		Cinema Novoas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2015		Cordilheiras no Mar: A Fúria do Fogo Bárbaroas Self
2015		Tudo Por Amor ao Cinemaas Self
2014		O Brasil de Darcy Ribeiroas
2013		Sinais de Cinza, A Peleja de Olney Contra o Dragão da Maldadeas
2011		Glauber Rocha em Defesa do Cinema Brasileiroas Self (archive footage)
2008		A Paz é Douradaas
2008		Criticas Self
2008		Jards Macalé - Um Morcego na Porta Principalas Self
2007		Sambando nas Brasas, Morô?as Self
2007		Oscar Niemeyer: Life is a Breath of Airas Self
2007		Português - A Língua do Brasilas
2006		Referênciasas Self
2003		Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinthas Self
2002		At the Edge of the Earthas Self
2002		How to Die in Cinemaas Himself
1999		Uma Vida Divididaas Ele mesmo
1998		For All - O Trampolim da Vitóriaas
1997		Dibas Self
1991		Que Filme 'Tu Vai' Fazer?as
1991		Que Viva Glauber!as
1989		Alex Viany - Um Documentário em Vídeoas Self
1984		Claves, 1: How Tasty Was My Little Frenchmanas himself
1984		Claves, 2: We will return youngeras himself
1971		Brazil in Cannesas
1971		Nelson Filmaas
1969		Garden of Waras
1967		Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novoas Self
1961		Red Mandacaruas Augusto