Paolo Marinou-Blanco is a Portuguese and Greek director, producer & screenwriter, with a B.A. in Philosophy from London School of Economics, an MA in French Literature from University College London and an MFA in Film from New York University. Following an internship with Spike Lee, Paolo wrote, directed and produced his 1st feature “Goodnight Irene”, screened at Talinn Black Nights, Edinburgh, Valencia, Goa, Provincetown New Orleans, Mill Valley, another 30 festivals worldwide and theatrically released in Portugal and the UK. Paolo has also worked as a professional screenwriter in the US (WGA member), Portugal and Brazil, working with studios like Paramount Pictures (US), Fox (Brazil) and producers such as Michael London (oscar nominated for “Sideways”). Paolo’s short film “Empty Hands” screened at Curtas Vila do Conde 2021, San Francisco IFF, Provincetown IFF, Izmir IFF, FestIn, Badajoz and many others, winning numerous awards.

“Dreaming of Lions” is Paolo’s 2nd feature as director/screenwriter and producer, via his company Darya Films, together with Promenade, Capuri and Cinetica. The film is a dark surreal comedy about euthanasia, a Portugal/Brazil/Spain coproduction, selected for the Torino Film Lab, MFI Script 2 Film, won the San Francisco Film Society Rainin Screenwriting Award, funding from Ibermedia and Eurimages, and premiered as the opening film of the Critics’ Picks competion of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.