Biografia
Born in 1980 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Cassio Pereira dos Santos studied filmmaking at the University of Brasilia, where he directed both fiction and documentary projects. After graduating in 2003, he worked as an assistant director on various filmmakers' projects. He wrote and directed eight short films, including A Menina Espantalho (2008), A Mulher no Alto do Morro (2012), and Marina Não Vai à Praia (2014). His work as a writer and director has been showcased at numerous international film festivals, such as the Warsaw Film Festival, OutFest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, Durban International Film Festival, BFI Flare London LGBTQ Film Festival, Zinegoak Bilbao, Aspen Short Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortsFest, Hamburg Short Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival, Prix Jeunesse Munich, Brasília Festival of Brazilian Cinema, Mostra de Cinema de Tiradentes, among others. His films have received over 60 awards. As a screenwriter, Cassio contributed to projects like Guigo Offline, directed by Rene Guerra, a feature film for Brazilian television that won Best Brazilian Feature Film at Festival Mix Brasil. Valentina (2020) marks his feature film directorial debut, garnering 15 international awards, including the Audience Award at the 44th São Paulo International Film Festival and Best Debut Director at the 51st International Film Festival of India 2021 in Goa. Valentina is set for digital release in Latin America and Spain, with theatrical releases planned in Japan and Sweden. Recently, Cassio was selected for Berlinale Talents 2021, Buenos Aires edition. He currently resides in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where he is developing additional feature films and TV series concepts.
