Directing

Gabriel Mascaro

Born January 1, 1983 · Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil (age 43)

Gabriel Mascaro (1983) is a Brazilian director and screenwriter based in Recife, Brazil, best known for his films Neon Bull (Venice, 2015), Divine Love (Sundance, 2019) and August Winds (Locarno, 2014). His films have garnered over 50 international awards and Neon Bull was highlighted in the New York Times Top 10 Best Films of 2016. In the same year, Mascaro had a retrospective at the Lincoln Cen…

Known For

Housemaids

Housemaids · 2012

MovieDocumentary

Seven adolescents take on the mission of filming, for one week, their family's housemaids and hand over the footage to the director to make a film. The images that confront us uncover the complex relationship that exists between housemaids and their employers, a relationship that confuses intimacy and power in the workplace and provides us with an insight into the echoes of a colonial past that linger in contemporary Brazil.

The Blue Trail

The Blue Trail · 2025

MovieDramaAdventure

In the near future, the elderly must relocate to remote retirement colonies so that the younger generations can go about their work undisturbed. The 77-year-old Tereza refuses and instead embarks on a life-changing journey through the Amazon.

The Beetle KFZ-1348

The Beetle KFZ-1348 · 2008

The Beetle KFZ-1348

MovieDocumentary

In 1965 a VW Beetle is sold in São Paulo, Brazil. Forty years later, the car ends up in a Recife scrapyard in the northeast, with the license plate KFZ-1348. The documentary “The Beetle KFZ-1348” presents the stories of this car through its eight owners, whose lives show a unique portrait of a country.

Seven Hearts

Seven Hearts · 2014

MovieDocumentaryMusic

Seven lives, seven stories, one passion: Frevo. The collaborative writing of a piece which welcomes us to the world of seven great maestros of Pernambuco. Jose Menezes, Nunes, Clovis Pereira, Guedes Peixoto, Duda, Ademir Araujo and Edson Rodrigues - living legends of this rhythm that is an intangible heritage of Brazil. A journey through Frevo.

Divine Love

Divine Love · 2019

MovieDramaScience Fiction

In 2027 Brazil, civil servant Joana mainly deals with divorce cases. As a member of a branch of evangelical Christians known as the Divino Amor group, she uses her position to offer a kind of physical therapy to couples who want to separate. Although Joana and her husband Danilo regularly consummate their marriage, neither her constant prayers nor any other methods of assistance seem to be able to fulfill their desire for a child.

Neon Bull

Neon Bull · 2016

Iremar works at the rodeo in North East of Brazil. From his home, the truck he uses to transport the animals, he dreams of a future in the region's booming clothing industry.

August Winds

August Winds · 2014

Shirley has left the big city to live in a small seaside town and look after her elderly grandmother. She drives a tractor on a local coconut plantation, loves rock music and wants to be a tattoo artist. She feels trapped in the tiny coastal village. She is involved with Jeison, who also works on the coconut farm and who free dives for lobster and octopus in his spare time.

Defiant Brasília

Defiant Brasília · 2010

Defiant Brasília

MovieDocumentary

Avenida Brasília Formosa provides a sensorial insight into the contemporary reality of a neighbourhood that was tranformed following the removal of families to make way for the construction of a coastal highway. This is about film of encounters, memories and desires.

Filmography

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Housemaids

Housemaids · 2012

MovieDocumentary

Seven adolescents take on the mission of filming, for one week, their family's housemaids and hand over the footage to the director to make a film. The images that confront us uncover the complex relationship that exists between housemaids and their employers, a relationship that confuses intimacy and power in the workplace and provides us with an insight into the echoes of a colonial past that linger in contemporary Brazil.

Director

The Blue Trail

The Blue Trail · 2025

MovieDramaAdventure

In the near future, the elderly must relocate to remote retirement colonies so that the younger generations can go about their work undisturbed. The 77-year-old Tereza refuses and instead embarks on a life-changing journey through the Amazon.

Director

The Beetle KFZ-1348

The Beetle KFZ-1348 · 2008

The Beetle KFZ-1348

MovieDocumentary

In 1965 a VW Beetle is sold in São Paulo, Brazil. Forty years later, the car ends up in a Recife scrapyard in the northeast, with the license plate KFZ-1348. The documentary “The Beetle KFZ-1348” presents the stories of this car through its eight owners, whose lives show a unique portrait of a country.

Director

Seven Hearts

Seven Hearts · 2014

MovieDocumentaryMusic

Seven lives, seven stories, one passion: Frevo. The collaborative writing of a piece which welcomes us to the world of seven great maestros of Pernambuco. Jose Menezes, Nunes, Clovis Pereira, Guedes Peixoto, Duda, Ademir Araujo and Edson Rodrigues - living legends of this rhythm that is an intangible heritage of Brazil. A journey through Frevo.

Writer

Divine Love

Divine Love · 2019

MovieDramaScience Fiction

In 2027 Brazil, civil servant Joana mainly deals with divorce cases. As a member of a branch of evangelical Christians known as the Divino Amor group, she uses her position to offer a kind of physical therapy to couples who want to separate. Although Joana and her husband Danilo regularly consummate their marriage, neither her constant prayers nor any other methods of assistance seem to be able to fulfill their desire for a child.

Screenplay

Neon Bull

Neon Bull · 2016

Iremar works at the rodeo in North East of Brazil. From his home, the truck he uses to transport the animals, he dreams of a future in the region's booming clothing industry.

Director

August Winds

August Winds · 2014

Shirley has left the big city to live in a small seaside town and look after her elderly grandmother. She drives a tractor on a local coconut plantation, loves rock music and wants to be a tattoo artist. She feels trapped in the tiny coastal village. She is involved with Jeison, who also works on the coconut farm and who free dives for lobster and octopus in his spare time.

Director

Defiant Brasília

Defiant Brasília · 2010

Defiant Brasília

MovieDocumentary

Avenida Brasília Formosa provides a sensorial insight into the contemporary reality of a neighbourhood that was tranformed following the removal of families to make way for the construction of a coastal highway. This is about film of encounters, memories and desires.

Director

Ebb and Flow

Ebb and Flow · 2012

MovieDocumentary

Rodrigo is a young deaf man from Recife, northeast Brazil who works installing car stereos in a small dealership on the outskirts of town. Despite his deafness, sound penetrates his day to day life and he harnesses its vibrations, allowing it to pulse through his veins.

Writer

High-Rise

High-Rise · 2009

MovieDocumentary

Penthouse residents of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Recife open up their homes to reveal their thoughts on social inequality, politics, and the world that surrounds them. As well as discussing more intimate subjects such as their desires, fears, insecurities, prejudices and personal histories. This is a film about height, status and power.

Writer

Cinetracts '20

Cinetracts '20 · 2020

MovieDocumentaryDrama

A global portrait documenting the year's events, Cinetracts '20 features the work of an international lineup of 20 filmmakers. Capturing the zeitgeist in their own backyard, the artists' short films are the culmination of a year-long residency project.

Director

The Adventures of Paulo Bruscky

The Adventures of Paulo Bruscky · 2010

The Adventures of Paulo Bruscky

MovieFantasyAnimation

Entering the virtual world of “Second Life”, Brazilian visual artist Paulo Bruscky meets film director Gabriel Mascaro. Mascaro, an ex-film film director from north-east Brazil currently lives and works making machinima (virtual short films) in the “Second Life”. Paulo hires Gabriel to make a machinima documentary of his adventures as a newcomer to the “Second Life”.

Director

Não é Sobre Sapatos

Não é Sobre Sapatos · 2014

Não é Sobre Sapatos

MovieDocumentary

The film shows the images made by the police during demonstrations of 2013 (Brazil). In times of anonymous faces, what to do with the feet?

Director