He has directed and written the screenplays of numerous films. His films have won several awards. His works have been nominated for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion.
Awarded the prestigious Ordem do Infante D.Henrique (Grau Comendador), one of Portuguese's highest honors, by President Jorge Sampaio on June 10, 2005.
Douro film harvest 2013 entrevista a joa o botelho
Early years
João Botelho born in Lamego, northern Portugal. He enrolled in mechanical engineering at the University of Coimbra and in cinema at the Lisbon Theatre and Film School (Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema), in 1974, dropping out in both cases. Has worked as graphic artist. His first cinematographic works were O Alto do Cobre and Um Projecto de Educação Popular, both in 1976.
Awards
In 1985, he won the Tucano de Ouro for Best Director at the Rio de Janeiro Film Festival for Um Adeus Português.
Nominated for the Golden Globes, Portugal in 1999 for Best Director and Best Film for Tráfico
Member of the jury of the 27th Three Continents Festival, held 22–29 November 2005 in Nantes, France.
Honored with a tribute by the Festival Cinéma du Réel in Paris (France) in March 2006.
Honored with a tribute by the Festival Internacional du Film de La Rochelle (France) in June and July 1999.
Filmography
The following films were directed by Botelho. For all except Um Projecto De Educação Popular, O Alto Do Cobre, No Dia Dos Meus Anos, 13 Filmes X 3, As Mãos E As Pedras, and Viagem Ao Coração Do Douro, A Terra Onde Nasci, he also wrote the screenplay.
O Alto do Cobre (1976, Short)
Um Projecto de Educação Popular (1976, Short)
Os Bonecos de Santo Aleixo (1977, Feature documentary)
Alexandre Rosa (1978) | Short with Jorge Alves da Silva - Premier in Semaine des Cahiers – Paris, cinema Action République
Um Adeus Português (1985, A Portuguese Farewell) | Premier Festival of London, Rio de Janeiro – Tucano de Ouro, New Film, New Directors, MOMA New York, Forum of Berlin
Tempos Difíceis (1988, Hard Times) | Premier in Venice Film Festival, official selection, competition – award of Italian critics-, Festival de New York, Lincoln Center
No Dia dos Meus Anos (1991, On My Birthday) | On demand of RTP/ARTE sur les 4 éléments; premier in Festival de Locarno, sélection officielle, hors compétition
Aqui na Terra (1993, Here on Earth) | Venice Film Festival official selection, competition; film selected to the day of Europe, exhibition simultaneously in Germany, France and Portugal.
Tráfico (1998, Traffic) | Premier in Venice Film Festival, official selection, competition
Se a Memória Existe (1999, Digital Video, 30’) | – commande pour le 25eme anniversaire du 25 Avril; première au Festival de Venise, nouveaux territoires
Quem És Tu? (2001) | Venice Film Festival, official selection, competition; Mimo Rotella Award for Best Artistic Contribution in Venice Biennale
A Mulher que Acreditava ser Presidente dos Estados Unidos da América (2003, The Woman Who Believed She Was President of the United States) | Premier in Cannes Film Festival, Quinzaine dés Réalisateurs, opening film
A Luz na Ria Formosa (2005, Documentário, Digital Video, 50’) | Festival DocLisboa and selected officially in Torino Film Festival, Cinema de Reel, Paris, Viennal, Áustria and Festival di Popolo, Florence
O Fatalista (2005, The Fatalist) | Premier in Venice Film Festival, official selection, competition; Toronto International Film Festival, Sevilha, Mostra de São Paulo, etc.
A Baleia Branca, Uma Ideia de Deus (2006, Documentary, 50’, Digital Video) | On RTP demand to the worldwide theatre play day to the show Moby Dick, in Municipal Teatro de São Luiz
A Terra Antes do Céu (2007, Documentary, 50’, Digital Video) | On demand of Direcção Geral de Cultura do Norte to the commemorations of the birth’s century of Miguel Torga, a great poet and storyteller of the Portuguese twentieth century
Corrupção (2007, Corruption) | This film was not signed by João Botelho, which was motivated by a dispute with the producer
A Corte do Norte (2009, The Northern Land) | Premier in New York Film Festival, Special Mention in Festival Internazionale del Film Di Roma, Italy
