Paulo Branco (born 3 June 1950) is a Portuguese

film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...

Life and career

Paulo Branco was born in

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

, and attended the undergraduate program in chemical engineering at the

Instituto Superior Técnico Instituto Superior Técnico MHSE • MHIP (IST, also known colloquially as Técnico, and stylized TÉCNICO LISBOA) is a public school of engineering and technology, part of University of Lisbon. It was founded as an autonomous school in 1911 ...

but he did not graduate. He started to work at the Olympic Cinema, in Paris, with

Frédéric Mitterrand Frédéric Mitterrand (born 21 August 1947) is a French politician who served as Minister of Culture and Communication of France from 2009 to 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy. Throughout his career, he has been an actor, screenwriter, tele ...

, in 1974, for two years, and started his career as a producer in 1979 between Paris and Lisbon. So far, he has produced over 300 films and has worked with film directors such as

David Cronenberg David Paul Cronenberg (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation ...

Jerzy Skolimowski Jerzy Skolimowski (, born 5 May 1938) is a Polish film director, screenwriter, dramatist and actor. A graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź, Skolimowski has directed more than twenty films since his 1960 début ''Oko wykol' ...

Wim Wenders Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders (; born 14 August 1945) is a German filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer. He is a major figure in New German Cinema. Among many honors, he has received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Docum ...

Chantal Akerman Chantal Anne Akerman (; 6 June 19505 October 2015) was a Belgian film director, screenwriter, artist, and Film studies, film professor at the City College of New York. She is best known for films such as ''Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 108 ...

Alain Tanner Alain Tanner (6 December 1929 – 11 September 2022) was a Swiss film director. Early years and education Tanner was born in Geneva, and studied economics at the University of Geneva. In 1951, he joined the film club which Claude Goretta had re ...

Werner Schroeter Werner Schroeter (7 April 1945 – 12 April 2010) was a German film director, screenwriter, and opera director known for his stylistic excess. Schroeter was cited by Rainer Werner Fassbinder as an influence both on his own work and on German cine ...

André Téchiné André Téchiné (; born 13 March 1943) is a French screenwriter and film director. He has a long and distinguished career that places him among the most accomplished post- New Wave French film directors. Téchiné belongs to a second generation ...

, Andrzej Zulawski,

Christophe Honoré Christophe Honoré (born 10 April 1970) is a French writer and film and theatre director. Career Honoré was born in Carhaix, Finistère. After moving to Paris in 1995, he wrote articles in ''Les Cahiers du Cinéma''. He started writing soon aft ...

, Olivier Assayas, Sharunas Bartas,

Cédric Kahn Cédric Kahn (; born 17 June 1966) is a French screenwriter, film director and actor. His films include ''L'Ennui'' (1998), based on the Alberto Moravia novel ''Boredom'', and '' Red Lights'' (2004), based on the Georges Simenon novel. His film ''R ...

Lucas Belvaux Lucas Belvaux (born 14 November 1961) is a Belgian actor and film director. His directing credits include the ''Trilogie'', consisting of three films with interlocking stories and characters, each of which was filmed in a different genre. The t ...

, Valéria Bruni-Tedeschi,

João César Monteiro João César Monteiro Santos (2 February 1939, in Figueira da Foz – 3 February 2003, in Lisbon) was a Portuguese film director, actor, writer and film critic. Life and career João César Monteiro was born into a family with anti-clerical ...

Paul Auster Paul Benjamin Auster (born February 3, 1947) is an American writer and film director. His notable works include ''The New York Trilogy'' (1987), ''Moon Palace'' (1989), ''The Music of Chance'' (1990), ''The Book of Illusions'' (2002), ''The Broo ...

Philippe Garrel Philippe Garrel (; born 6 April 1948) is a French director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor, and producer, associated with the French New Wave movement. His films have won him awards at Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival. ...

Mathieu Amalric Mathieu Amalric (; born 25 October 1965) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is best known internationally for his roles in the James Bond film ''Quantum of Solace'', in which he played the lead villain, Steven Spielberg's ''Munich (2005 film), ...

… among many others. His career has particularly been branded with an intense collaboration, during more than 20 years, with Raúl Ruiz ('' Time Regained'', ''

Three Lives and Only One Death ''Three Lives and Only One Death'' (french: Trois vies et une seule mort) is a 1996 French film directed by Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz. It was entered into the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, and was the penultimate film to star Marcello Mastroianni ...

'') and with

Manoel de Oliveira Manoel Cândido Pinto de Oliveira (; 11 December 1908 – 2 April 2015) was a Portuguese film director and screenwriter born in Cedofeita, Porto. He first began making films in 1927, when he and some friends attempted to make a film about Wo ...

(''

Francisca The francisca (or francesca) is a throwing axe used as a weapon during the Early Middle Ages by the Franks, among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the Merovingians from about 500 to 750 and is known to have been used d ...

'', '' Abraham’s Valley'', ''

The Satin Slipper ''The Satin Slipper'' (''Le Soulier de satin'') is a long play by the French dramatist and poet Paul Claudel, written in 1929. It was first performed on stage in 1943, in a production by Claudel and Jean-Louis Barrault. Its run time is roughly elev ...

''). He has been member of the jury at the

Berlinale The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

(1999), at Venice’s Mostra (2005), and at the

Rotterdam Film Festival The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental fi ...

(2006). In 2011, he was foreman of the jury at the Lecce Film Festival and at the

Locarno Film Festival The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, s ...

. Paulo Branco is also the producer who has had the greatest number of films selected at

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

and the greatest number of films having competed for the

Golden Palm The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

. He presented 53 films in

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...

- 27 of which in Official Selection - and brought 48 films to the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

. He created several production and distribution companies in Portugal - Madragoa Filmes, Leopardo Filmes, Clap Filmes - where he also owns movie theatres and in France: Les Films du Passage,

Gemini Films Gemini Studios was an Indian film studio based in Chennai, Madras, Tamil Nadu. It was launched when S. S. Vasan, a businessman of many ventures (including the ownership of Ananda Vikatan) bought Motion Picture Producers' Combines from Krishnasw ...

, and lately Alfama Films. Established in 2006, Alfama Films Production extends Paulo Branco’s commitment for independent cinema with directors he’s been supporting for a long time but also with emerging talents, always taking on new challenges like Cronenberg’s '' Cosmopolis''. In just a few years, it has built an impressive film catalogue welcomed in the most important festivals. ''

Lines of Wellington ''Lines of Wellington'' ( pt, Linhas de Wellington) is a 2012 Franco-Portuguese epic war film and television series prepared by Chilean director Raúl Ruiz and completed by his widow Valeria Sarmiento. Its title refers to the historical Lines ...

'' by

Valeria Sarmiento Valeria Sarmiento (born 29 October 1948) is a film editor, director and screenwriter best known for her work in France, Portugal and her native Chile. She has worked both in film and television, directing 20 feature films, documentaries and tele ...

was presented in competition at the 2012

. '' Cosmopolis'' was selected in the official competition of

in 2012. '' Mysteries of Lisbon'' by Raúl Ruiz was selected in competition at Toronto’s and San Sebastian’s Festival, ''

Ashes and blood ''Ashes and Blood'' (french: Cendres et sang) is a 2009 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Fanny Ardant. It was given a special screening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Plot A widow, Judith returns to Marseille with her child ...

'' by

Fanny Ardant Fanny Marguerite Judith Ardant (born 22 March 1949) is a French actress and film director. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two César Awards and a Lumières Award. Early life Ardant was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Fr ...

was presented Out of competition in the Official Selection of

2009, '' This Night'' by

was in competition in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

2008. ''

Four Nights with Anna ''Four Nights with Anna'' ( pl, Cztery noce z Anną) is a 2008 drama film directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. It stars Artur Steranko and Kinga Preis. It tells the story of a man who visits a woman in her sleep. The film had its world premiere as the o ...

'' by

did the opening of Cannes’ Directors Fortnight in 2008. ''

Love Songs A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order ...

'' by

was selected in the official competition of

2007. Alfama Films has also been developing its activities of theatrical distribution, international sales and video edition. Paulo Branco is President of the

Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival The Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival (LEFFEST), formerly known as Estoril Film Festival, (also known as Lisbon & Sintra Film Festival) is an annual international film festival held in November in Estoril, on the Portuguese Riviera. Established i ...

, event that he founded in 2007.. He is the father of Juan Branco.

Selected filmography

Producer

* '' Ill-Fated Love'' (1979) * ''

'' (1981) * '' The Territory'' (1981) * '' The State of Things'' (1982) * ''

In the White City ''In the White City'' (french: Dans la ville blanche) is a 1983 Swiss drama film directed by Alain Tanner. It was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language F ...

'' (1983) * ''

Three Crowns of the Sailor ''Three Crowns of the Sailor'' (french: Les trois couronnes du matelot) is a 1983 French fabulation, fabulist film with Surrealist cinema, surrealist and oneiric (film theory), oneiric flourishes written and directed by Cinema of Chile, Chilean ...

'' (1983) * '' City of Pirates'' (1983) * '' Le soulier de satin'' (1984) * '' Manoel's Destinies'' (1985) * ''

Treasure Island ''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...

'' (1985) * '' Maine-Océan'' (1986) * '' The Cannibals'' (1988) * '' Winter's Child'' (1989) * ''

No, or the Vain Glory of Command ''No, or the Vain Glory of Command'' ( pt, Non, ou a Vã Gloria de Mandar) is a 1990 Portuguese film directed by Manoel de Oliveira. The film, starring Luís Miguel Cintra and Miguel Guilherme, depicts a series of defeats from the entire milita ...

'' (1990) * '' The End of the World'' (1992) * ''

Abraham's Valley ''Abraham's Valley'' ( pt, Vale Abraão) is a 1993 Portuguese drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira, based on a novel by Agustina Bessa-Luís, and partially inspired by Gustave Flaubert's 1857 novel ''Madame Bovary''. The film was selected a ...

'' (1993) * '' Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional'' (1993) * '' Lisbon Story'' (1994) * '' The Convent'' (1995) * '' Down to Earth'' (1995) * '' The Phantom Heart'' (1996) * '' Five Days, Five Nights'' (1996) * ''

'' (1996) * '' Pour rire !'' (1996) * ''

Few of Us ''Few of Us'' ( lt, Mūsų nedaug) is a 1996 Lithuanian drama film directed by Šarūnas Bartas. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. The film shows a young woman visiting a nomadic Tofalar tribe i ...

'' (1996) * ''

Genealogies of a Crime ''Genealogies of a Crime'' (french: Généalogies d'un crime, pt, Genealogias de um Crime) is a 1997 French-Portuguese film directed by Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz. It was entered into the 47th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the ...

'' (1997) * ''

Ossos ''Ossos'' (English: "Bones") is a 1997 Portuguese film directed by Pedro Costa. The film was shot in the Fontainhas district of Lisbon (also known as "Estrela d'Africa"), where disadvantaged dwellers and immigrants from former Portuguese colonie ...

'' (1997) * ''

Voyage to the Beginning of the World ''Voyage to the Beginning of the World'' ( pt, Viagem ao Princípio do Mundo, french: Voyage au début du monde) is a 1997 Portuguese-French drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira and starring Marcello Mastroianni. The film was selected as ...

'' (1997) * '' The House'' (1997) * ''

Anxiety Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. Anxiety is different than fear in that the former is defined as the anticipation of a future threat wh ...

'' (1998) * '' The New Eve'' (1999) * '' Time Regained'' (1999) * '' As Bodas de Deus'' (1999) * '' Modern Life'' (2000) * ''

La fidélité ''Fidelity'' () is a 2000 French drama film written and directed by Andrzej Żuławski and starring Sophie Marceau, Pascal Greggory, and Guillaume Canet. Based on Madame de La Fayette's 1678 novel ''La Princesse de Clèves'', the film is about a ...

'' (2000) * '' The Captive'' (2000) * '' Le stade de Wimbledon'' (2001) * '' I'm Going Home'' (2001) * '' Get a Life'' (2001) * ''

I Am Dina ''I Am Dina'' is a 2002 Norwegian-Swedish- Danish film directed by Ole Bornedal. It is based on the 1989 book ''Dinas bok'' (''Dina's Book'') by Herbjørg Wassmo. It was one of the most high-profile films in Norwegian movie history. Plot I ...

'' (2002) * '' The Uncertainty Principle'' (2002) * ''

Two 2 (two) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 1 and preceding 3. It is the smallest and only even prime number. Because it forms the basis of a duality, it has religious and spiritual significance in many cultur ...

'' (2002) * ''

It's Easier for a Camel ''It's Easier for a Camel...'' (french: Il est plus facile pour un chameau...) is a 2003 French comedy film written, directed by and starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. It was entered into the 25th Moscow International Film Festival. It won the Lou ...

'' (2003) * '' A Talking Picture'' (2003) * '' That Day'' (2003) * '' Changing Times'' (2004) * ''

Ma mère ''Ma Mère'' ( en, My Mother, italic=yes) is a 2004 erotic drama film written and directed by Christophe Honoré, based on the posthumous 1966 novel of the same name by French author Georges Bataille. The film follows the incestuous relationship ...

'' (2004) * ''

In the Darkness of the Night ''In the Darkness of the Night'' ( pt, Noite Escura) is a 2004 Portuguese drama film directed by João Canijo. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Fernando Luís as Nelson Pinto * Rita Blanc ...

'' (2004) * '' Tomorrow We Move'' (2004) * '' Alice'' (2005) * '' C'est pas tout à fait la vie dont j'avais rêvé'' (2005) * '' In Paris'' (2006) * '' A Few Days in September'' (2006) * ''

'' (2007) * ''

From Now On From Now On may refer to: Film * ''From Now On'' (1920 film), an American film of 1920 * ''From Now On'' (film), a 2007 Portuguese film directed by Catarina Ruivo Music Albums * ''From Now On'' (Jaki Graham album) or the title song, 1989 * ''Fro ...

'' (2007) * '' Très bien, merci'' (2007) * ''

The Inner Life of Martin Frost ''The Inner Life of Martin Frost'' is a 2007 American romantic-mystery drama film directed by Paul Auster and starring David Thewlis, Irène Jacob, and Michael Imperioli. Written by Paul Auster, the film is about an author who having just comple ...

'' (2007) * ''

'' (2008) * ''This Night'' (2008) * ''

Ashes and Blood ''Ashes and Blood'' (french: Cendres et sang) is a 2009 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Fanny Ardant. It was given a special screening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Plot A widow, Judith returns to Marseille with her child ...

'' (2009) * '' Mysteries of Lisbon'' (2010) * ''

'' (2012) * '' Cosmopolis'' (2012) * ''

My Soul Healed By You My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Mark ...

'' (2013) * '' The Blue Room'' (2014) * ''

Cadences obstinées ''Cadences obstinées'' (Portuguese: ''Cadências Obstinadas'') is a 2013 French-Portuguese romance film directed by Fanny Ardant. Cast *Asia Argento as Margo * Nuno Lopes as Furio *Franco Nero as Carmine * Tudor Istodor as Gabriel * Ricardo Perei ...

'' (2014) * ''

Casanova Variations ''Casanova Variations'' is a 2014 French-Austrian-German fantasy historical drama film written and directed by Michael Sturminger and starring John Malkovich. It is based on '' Histoire de ma vie'' by Giacomo Casanova, who is played by Malkovic ...

'' (2014) * ''

Cosmos The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...

'' (2015) * '' L'Astragale'' (2015) * '' Mad Love'' (2015) * '' Fool Moon'' (2016) * ''

The Young One ''The Young One'' ( es, La joven) (released as ''White Trash'' in the United States and ''Island of Shame'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1960 English-language Mexican drama film directed and co-written by Luis Buñuel, and starring Zachary Scott ...

'' (2016) * '' Never Ever'' (2016) * '' O Caderno Negro'' (2018)

Actor

* ''

1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15), 2 ...

'' (1976) - Orso Dalcò * ''

'' (1983) - L'homme dans la gare (uncredited) * ''Point de fuite'' (1984) * ''Vidas'' (1984) - Carlos * ''Três Menos Eu'' (1988) * ''Piano panier ou La recherche de l'équateur'' (1989) - António * ''Les infortunes de la beauté'' (1999) - Le gardien * ''Mister V.'' (2003) - Batistella * ''

Blood Curse The term "blood curse" refers to a New Testament passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which describes events taking place in Pilate's court before the crucifixion of Jesus and specifically the apparent willingness of the Jewish crowd to accept li ...

'' (2003) - Godofredo Monteiro (final film role)

Awards

*1997: Europa Award of the European Parliament *1998: Gabriela Mistral Order of the

Republic of Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

*2002: Raimondo Rezzonico Award of the

*2004: Officer of the

Order of Arts and Letters The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...

of the

French Republic France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

*2019:

Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts The Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts has been established by the World Cultural Council (Mexico) to acknowledge those who offer a positive message to mankind through different expressions of art. It is conferred upon "artist, sculptor, write ...

conferred by the

World Cultural Council The World Cultural Council is an international organization whose goals are to promote cultural values, goodwill and philanthropy among individuals. The organization founded in 1981 and based in Mexico, has held a yearly award ceremony since 198 ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Branco, Paulo 1950 births Living people Portuguese film producers People from Lisbon Instituto Superior Técnico alumni