João Pedro Rodrigues was born in Lisbon in 1966.
He started studying biology at Lisbon University to become an ornithologist, but gave it up for cinema studies and graduated from the Lisbon Film School.
João Pedro Rodrigues starts his international career at the 54th Mostra of Venice in 1997, where his short “Parabéns!” / “Happy Birthday!” was awarded a Special Jury Mention. In 1997 / 1998, he directed “Esta é a Minha Casa” (“This is My House”) / “Viagem à Expo” (“Journey to The Expo”), a documentary in two parts. In 2000, he directed his first feature, “O Fantasma” / “Phantom”, that was presented in Official Competition at the 57th Mostra of Venice and was awarded with Best Feature Film at Entrevues, Festival International du Film Belfort and at the New Festival of New York.
In 2005, his second feature “Odete” was awarded several prizes, among them the Special Mention “Cinémas de Recherche” at the 37th Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes.
In 2007, his new feature project “Morrer Como Um Homem” / “To Die Like a Man” is selected by the Cinéfondation for the Atelier of Cannes Film Festival at the same time that his last short, “China, China”, co-directed with João Rui Guerra da Mata, is presented at the 39th Directors’ Fortnight.
Jury attendance
- Member Cinéfondation & Short Films, 2011
