Best Brazilian Directors of All Time (Melhores Diretores Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos)

Duarte left his hometown, at 14, and moved to São Paulo where he started working as a typist in an accounting office. In the early 1940s, after graduating in Economics, he went to Rio de Janeiro, where he had a bit-part on It's All True (1943). He then made some appearances in radio soap operas and worked as a writer and reporter for the 'Observatório Econômico e Financeiro' newspaper.

His big break debut as a leading actor came with Italian director Alberto Pieralisi's film Querida Susana (1947). The following year, Duarte was hired by 'Atlântida Empresa Cinematográfica do Brasil', performing in Terra Violenta (1949) and becoming one of the biggest heartthrobs on Brazilian movie screens. In 1951, he switches to 'Companhia Cinematográfica Vera Cruz', another important Brazilian film studio of the time, commanding the highest salary of its contract players.

in 1957, he returned to São Paulo and began his career as a director, with the short documentary 'Fazendo Cinema' followed by a feature film. He left for Europe during a few years, where he appeared in several productions in Portugal, France, and Spain.

Back in Brazil in 1961, he decided to buy the rights to the play 'O Pagador de Promessas', by playwright Dias Gomes, and adapted it to the screen, with the co-production of Oswaldo Massaini. In 1962, the film was selected to represent Brazil at the XV International Film Festival in Cannes, where it won the 'Palme d'Or'. In the same year, it is awarded in more than ten festivals in Brazil and abroad.

His participation in Independência ou Morte (1972) influenced him to become a Freemason. In 1979, he made his only telenovela appearance, guest starring in Feijão Maravilha (1979).

In 2008, at 88, Duarte founded the 'Instituto Anselmo Duarte', a cultural organization dedicated to restoring selected Brazilian films and creating special educational projects aimed at young filmmakers to improve their technical filmmaking skills. After his death, his son, became the institute's president.

Carlos Manga was born on 6 January 1928 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for One Heart (2004), Vamos com Calma (1956) and O Marginal (1974). He was married to Inalda de Carvalho and Denise. He died on 17 September 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Luiz Carlos Barreto was born on 20 May 1928 in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil. He is a producer and writer, known for Casa de Areia (2005), Isto É Pelé (1974) and Four Days in September (1997).

Nelson Pereira dos Santos was born on 22 October 1928 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Memórias do Cárcere (1984), O Amuleto de Ogum (1974) and Barren Lives (1963). He was married to Ivelise Ferreira. He died on 21 April 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Walter Hugo Khouri was born on 21 October 1929 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for O Último Êxtase (1973), O Anjo da Noite (1974) and Iguassu: The Devil's Throat (1960). He died on 27 June 2003 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Antunes Filho was born on 12 December 1929 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Compasso de Espera (1969), Grande Teatro Tupi (1951) and O Contador de Histórias (1955). He died on 2 May 2019 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Ruy Guerra left his studies in Portugal for to go to the School of Cinema in Paris. After having worked as assistant for various French directors he moved to Brasil and participated with his first two films in the birth of the "Cinema Novo": "Os Cafajestes (1962)" and "Os Fuzis (1964)" which won some international prizes. After an intermediate time in France where he made "Sweet Hunters (1969)" he returned to Brazil and went on filming there.

Antonio Abujamra was born on 15 September 1932 in Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and actor, known for Festa (1989), Super Plá (1969) and Os Adolescentes (1981). He died on 28 April 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Herval Rossano was born on 23 April 1933 in Campos dos Goitacases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a director and actor, known for The Slave Isaura (2004), Caminos cruzados (1994) and A Sucessora (1978). He was married to Mayara Magri, Nívea Maria and Doris Guerrero. He died on 8 May 2007 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Eduardo Coutinho was born on 11 May 1933 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Edifício Master (2002), Santo Forte (1999) and Babilônia 2000 (1999). He was married to Maria das Dores de Oliveira. He died on 2 February 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ademar Guerra was born on 10 September 1933 in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for Grande Teatro Tupi (1951), Urgente (Um Namorado Para Sheila) (1959) and Gente Como a Gente (1963). He died on 19 February 1993 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Walter Avancini was born on 18 April 1935 in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and producer, known for Rabo-de-Saia (1984), Boca de Ouro (1990) and A Deusa Vencida (1965). He was married to Débora Fuchs. He died on 26 September 2001 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Domingos de Oliveira was born on 28 September 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an actor and writer, known for Todas as Mulheres do Mundo (1966), Amores (1998) and Barata Ribeiro, 716 (2016). He was married to Priscilla Rozenbaum, Leila Diniz and Nazareth Ohana. He died on 23 March 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Zé Celso was born on 30 March 1937 in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and director, known for O Rei da Vela (1983), 25 (1977) and O Parto (1975). He died on 6 July 2023 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Daniel Filho - Responsible for triggering an aesthetic revolution in Brazilian TV during the 1970s, he became a Midas of popular cinema in Brazil during the 2000s. He created one blockbuster after another, many adapted from the theatre. The "Se Eu Fosse Você" (If I Were You) franchise (2006-09), featuring Tony Ramos and Gloria Pires - famous for their soap opera roles, sold more than 9 million tickets.

An actor during the 1960s, when he worked on seminal projects of the Cinema Novo period, such as "Os Cafajestes" (The Unscrupulous Ones) (1962) by Ruy Guerra and "Boca de Ouro" (The Golden Mouth) (1963) by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Daniel Filho cemented himself as a director in 1969 by filming "Pobre Príncipe Encantado", a romantic comedy featuring the successful singer Wanderley Cardoso. Since then, he has continued directing for both cinema and TV, and become known for his snappy dialogue and concise plots.

He directed pieces on the post-­hippie youth, such as "O Casal" (1975) and a children's film, "O Cangaceiro Trapalhão" (1983). In the second half of the 1980s and the 1990s, he concentrated on producing, working on "Cidade de Deus" (City of Gold) (2000), amongst others. He returned to directing with "A Partilha" (The Inheritance), in 2001, based on the play by Miguel Falabella, and, since then, has released another eight features, almost always breaking the 1 million ticket mark at the box office.

Born in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, 1937.

Zelito Viana was born on May 5, 1938 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil as José Viana Paula de Oliveira. He is a director and producer, known for Avaeté - Semente da Vingança (1985), Morte e Vida Severina (1977) and Villa-Lobos - Uma Vida de Paixão (2000). He is married to Vera Maria de Paula.

He was honored in numerous Festivals for his work and became a reference in Brazilian cinema.

Walter Lima Jr. was born on 26 November 1938 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for The Oyster and the Wind (1997), Os Desafinados (2008) and Plantation Boy (1965). He was previously married to Telma Costa and Anecy Rocha.

He studied Law. He also directed theatre pieces, wrote movie criticisms and took part in the creation and development of the 'cinema novo' movement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, becoming its theoretical leader and first embassador in Europe. After "Barravento (1962)", a trilogy of films and "Antonio das Mortes (1969)" he won various international prizes. As he symbolized the feelings of the ideology of the May of 1968, he became very popular in Europe and America. But when he started to film in Africa and Spain his followers were distracted and this marked the beginning of the decline of his fame. Thus, he only made a couple of films of minor interest later on.

João Batista de Andrade was born on 14 December 1939 in Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for O Homem que Virou Suco (1980), Doramundo (1978) and The Next Victim (1983).

Carlos Diegues was born on 19 May 1940 in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. He was a producer and director, known for Xica (1976), O Maior Amor do Mundo (2006) and Better Days Ahead (1989). He was married to Renata Maria de Almeida Magalhães and Nara Leão. He died on 14 February 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Arnaldo Jabor was born on 12 December 1940 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a composer and writer, known for All Nudity Shall Be Punished (1973), Tudo Bem (1978) and The Marriage (1975). He was married to Suzana Villas Boas. He died on 15 February 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Celso Nunes was born on 15 November 1941 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He is an actor, known for Flora (1996), Passo a Passo com as Estrelas (1994) and Você Também Pode Dar um Presunto Legal (2006).

Neville D'Almeida was born in 1941 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Killed the Family and Went to the Movies (1991), The Seven Kittens (1980) and Rio Babilonia (1983).

Ugo Giorgetti was born in 1942 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. He is a director and writer, known for Festa (1989), Boleiros: Era Uma Vez o Futebol... (1998) and O Príncipe (2002).

Carlos Reichenbach was born on 14 June 1945 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Buccaneer Soul (1993), Dois Córregos: Verdades Submersas no Tempo (1999) and Lilian M.: Relatório Confidencial (1975). He was married to Lygia Reichenbach. He died on 14 June 2012 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.