Nationality Brazilian Partner Randall Martusis (2002–) Role Writer | Name Flavio Alves Years active 2006-present | |
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Full Name Flavio Pimenta Alves Born November 30, 1969 (age 54) ( 1969-11-30 ) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Residence New York City, New York Occupation Film director, producer, screenwriter Spouse(s) Randall Martusis (2002-present) Education Columbia University, New York University Movies Tom in America, Art Machine, Odysseus' Gambit, Only Solomon Lee, The Secret Friend Similar People Roy Gokay Wol, Greg Starr, Alex Lora, Sally Kirkland, Doug Karr Profiles | ||
Finding an Audience - Flavio Alves
Flávio Pimenta Alves (born 30 November 1969) is a Brazilian writer, screenwriter, and film director resident in America since 1998. His movies consistently feature elderly characters as protagonists. He is best known for the film Tom in America, starring Burt Young and Sally Kirkland.
Contents
- Finding an Audience Flavio Alves
- Early years
- Career
- Ebay Campaign
- Personal life
- Producer
- Director
- Awards
- References
Early years
Alves was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and served the Brazilian navy for several years before coming to America in 1997. He was granted political asylum in the United States in 1998 based on political opinion and sexual orientation after he wrote the book, Toque de Silêncio ("Call to Silence", 1997), describing his life as a gay man in the Brazilian navy. His request was granted because, according to Alves, he received death threats upon publishing his book. Although various human rights organizations, LGBT activists, and former São Paulo mayor Marta Suplicy supported his claim, it has also divided the Brazilian gay community. He attended Columbia University in New York City, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science. In the early 2000s he worked as an assistant for then-Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and then-New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
Career
In 2007, Alves left politics and enrolled at New York University to study film production. While there he wrote and directed, Even in My Dreams, which received the Technisphere Award from NYU for best student film, and was screened at a variety of film festivals around the world. The film was also the winner of the Golden Palm Award at the 2009 Mexico International Film Festival, and the Golden Ace Award at the 2009 Las Vegas International Film Festival. In June 2010, Flavio released his short film The Secret Friend, starring Viola Harris and Siobhan Fallon in the major roles. The film received multiple awards and nominations after its premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2010, where it was chosen as Best of the Fest.
Alves’ most recent film, Tom in America, starring Academy Award nominees, Burt Young and Sally Kirkland, has been screened at over 130 film festivals worldwide, and was also featured on the cable network HereTV. Flavio is currently in post-production for his upcoming film, The Garden Left Behind, starring Michael Madsen and Ed Asner. The Garden Left Behind is Alves’s first feature length film as a director and it is scheduled to be released Spring 2017.
Ebay Campaign
While in pre-production for his upcoming film, The Garden Left Behind, Alves and his team pioneered the use of eBay as a crowdfunding platform. The unprecedented success experienced during this campaign revamped typical crowdfunding methods. The film became the first independent film to be funded substantially through donations and sales via eBay.
Personal life
Flavio lives in Forest Hills, New York. In April 2010, Alves became a US citizen. As of 2013, he has been a member of the National Board of Review.