João Rui Guerra da Mata

João Rui Guerra da Mata was born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique. He made significant contributions to the film industry as an educator, serving as a professor of Art Direction at the Lisbon Film School from 2004 until 2011. Guerra da Mata gained early recognition in 1997 when he co-starred in the short film PARABÉNS!, directed by João Pedro Rodrigues, which received a Special Jury Mention at the 54th Venice Film Festival.

Throughout his career, Guerra da Mata has established himself as a prominent Art Director, collaborating extensively with Rodrigues on numerous features and short films. Their partnership evolved over time, leading to co-directorship on several projects, including the acclaimed shorts CHINA, CHINA (2007) and ALVORADA VERMELHA (2011). CHINA, CHINA was showcased at the 39th Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and won both the Best Short Film and Audience Award at the Belfort Film Festival. ALVORADA VERMELHA was honored as the Best Portuguese Short Film at the IndieLisboa Film Festival and made its international debut at the Locarno Film Festival.

In 2012, Guerra da Mata released his first solo film, O QUE ARDE CURA, marking a significant milestone in his filmmaking career. His body of work reflects a deep commitment to the art of cinema and a passion for storytelling, solidifying his status in the Portuguese film landscape.