João was born in Lisbon, Portugal, by the sea. But at the age of 8 he left for Switzerland with his family and has been longing for the ocean ever since. He holds a degree in economics from the London School of Economics and a masters in filmmaking from the London Film School (LFS). His first short, Wetsuit, his thesis film from the LFS, premiered in 2022 at the Curtas Vila do Conde IFF and it has gone on to play and win awards in a wide selection of festivals. He has just finished post-production for his second short, Super Past Car, which is currently awaiting to premiere. His films explore themes of growing up and personal identity, the homes we make and the homes we long for. João is currently part of the 2024 TFL Scriptlab programme where he is developing his first feature, Atropical Energy, inspired by the world and characters of Wetsuit and his own personal experiences. He lives and works in Lisbon, where he spends his time roaming the coast, looking for waves and stories.
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