
Person
João Rui Guerra da Mata
Directing · Lourenço Marques, Portuguese Mozambique
Biography
João Rui Guerra da Mata was born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique. He teached Art Direction at the Lisbon Film School from 2004 to 2011. In 1997 he co-starred in the short PARABÉNS!, directed by João Pedro Rodrigues, that won the Special Jury Mention at the 54th Mostra di Venezia. As an Art Director, he worked in several features and shorts, notably the ones directed by João Pedro Rodrigues, whose films he also co-scripted. This collaboration lately evolved to co-direction, namely in the shorts CHINA, CHINA (2007) – 39th Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes; Best Short Film and Audience Award, Belfort Film Festival and ALVORADA VERMELHA (2011) – Best Portuguese Short Film, IndieLisboa Film Festival; international premiere at Locarno Film Festival. O QUE ARDE CURA (2012) is his debut solo film.
Known for

O Fantasma
Police 2

Morning of Saint Anthony's Day
Art Direction

Two Drifters
Set Decoration

13 Alfinetes
Director

Will-o'-the-Wisp
Production Design

Happy Birthday!
Francisco
L'oiseau de la nuit
2015

The Ornithologist
Screenplay

The Girl in the Mirror
Art Direction

Haircut
Costume Design
Filmography
- 202513 AlfinetesDirector
- 2023Where Is This Street? or With No Before or After
- 2022Will-o'-the-WispProduction Design
- 2021A Room in TownDirector
- 2016Where Do You Stand Now, João Pedro Rodrigues?
- 2016The OrnithologistScreenplay
- 2015Here in Lisbon
- 2015L'oiseau de la nuit
- 2015IEC LongDirector
- 2014Goodnight CinderellaArt Direction
- 2013Mahjong
- 2013The Last Time I Saw Macao
- 2012The King's BodyAssistant Director
- 2012Morning of Saint Anthony's DayArt Direction
- 2012As the Flames RoseDirector
- 2011Side EffectsArt Direction
- 2011A Portuguese FilmHimself
- 2011Red DawnDirector
- 2009To Die Like a ManArt Direction
- 2007China, ChinaWriter
- 2005Two DriftersSet Decoration
- 2004The Girl in the MirrorArt Direction
- 2000O FantasmaPolice 2
- 1997Happy Birthday!Francisco
- 1996HaircutCostume Design
- —Afonso's SmileWriter
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