Miguel Gonçalves Mendes was born is 1978 in Covilhã, Portugal. Worked as an actor, director and producer and directed several feature films and documentaries. Founded, in 2002, JumpCut, a cinema and theatre producer, based in Lisbon. It is currently one of the exponents of the new generation of Portuguese filmmakers. He held a series of award-winning documentaries, experimental films and projects on request. His film Floripes, released in 2007, is his first hybrid production (documentary-fiction), a format the director would began to explore. In 2011, debuts his project José e Pilar, in co-production with O2 Filmes and the spanish producer El Deseo (from the Almodovar brothers). Internationally acclaimed by critics and audiences, the film collected awards in several festivals and was elected to represent Portugal in the category of Best Foreign Film Oscar in 2012.Among his most recent works are the series “Nada Tenho de Meu”, displayed by Canal Brazil in 2013. His most recent project is the documentary MEANING OF LIFE - a film that tells the story of a young man with Amyloidosis and his exciting search for purpose, meaning and truth. In parallel, Miguel also develops the long fiction film "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ", the controversial adaptation novel by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago.

AWARDS

2010

“JOSÉ AND PILAR” (DOC.128’)

〉 Best Portuguese Film of the year 2010 by Visão Magazine and among the Top 5 of 2010 by Time Out Magazine.
〉 Audience Award Winner at the International Cinema Exhibition of São Paulo (November 10th, Brazil); Displayed three times, within a selection of over 500 films (which included 17 Portuguese productions)
〉 Audience Award at the 2nd International Cinema Exhibition of Portimão - South Visions (October 10th, Portugal); With two sold out displays, it turns out to be the Audience Award Winner, getting a 4.85 rating in 5 points.
〉 Award for Best Documentary, the Portuguese Cinema Paths.
〉 Audience Award Winner, Caminhos Festival (Coimbra)
〉 Best Documentary Winner, Caminhos Festival (Coimbra)
〉 Honorable Mention from the International Jury of CineClubes, Caminhos Festival (Coimbra)
〉 Best Documentary Winner in CINEPOR – Portuguese Film Festival (Brazil, 2011)
〉 Best Director Winner in CINEPOR – Portuguese Film Festival (Brazil, 2011)

2008

“MONDAY” (FIC. 12’)

Making of the film “MONDAY” (12’), short fiction film, set in the project "Diagnosis" (four movies from four directors with the same premise: disease) Filmed and edited in 24 hours.
〉 Special Jury Prize at the 1st Digital Film Festival of Odemira

2004

“AUTOGRAFIA”(DOC.103”)

Making of the documentary feature film “AUTOGRAFIA”(103”), Portrait of Mario Cesariny.
〉 Best Portuguese Documentary – DocLisboa 2004
〉 Lusofonia Big Award – FamaFest 2005
〉 Youth Jury Award “Lusofonia” – FamaFest 2005
〉 Award for Best Documentary – Festespinho 2005
〉 Big Award Fest 2005. – Festespinho 2005

2002

“D. NIEVES” (DOC. 30’)

〉 “Migliore Opera Portoghese sez Cultura Tradizioni d'Europa” 2003, European Award “Massimo Troisi” (Italy)
〉“Camacho Costa” Award – CineEco Festival
〉 “Young Director” Award – Ovarvídeo Festival
〉“Best Documentary” Award – Fest 2003
〉 Honorable Mention – Novidad Festival
〉 Honorable Mention – Barreiro Video Festival
〉 Audience Award for Best Short Film – 2nd Cinema Festival of Covilhã, 05