Fernando Meirelles

Directing

Fernando Meirelles

Born

1955-11-09 (70)

Place of birth

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Known for

Directing

Credits

54 titles

Fernando Ferreira Meirelles (Brazilian Portuguese:[feʁˈnɐ̃du mejˈɾɛlis]; born 9 November 1955) is a Brazilian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for co-directing the film City of God, released in 2002 in Brazil and in 2003 in the U.S. by Miramax Films, which received international critical acclaim. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for his work in the film. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director in 2005 for The Constant Gardener, which garnered the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz. He also directed the 2008 adaptation of José Saramago's novel Blindness and the 2011 film 360. In 2019, Meirelles …

Known for

Film credits

2010s · 5 titles

2000s · 4 titles

Series credits

Behind the camera

City of God poster
8.4

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

City of God

2002

Beast Race poster
6.9

In future Rio de Janeiro, a young leader of the resistance must enter a deadly parkour-inspired competition in order to save his sister's life.

Beast Race

2026

Beast Race poster
6.9

In future Rio de Janeiro, a young leader of the resistance must enter a deadly parkour-inspired competition in order to save his sister's life.

Beast Race

2026

The Two Popes poster
7.5

Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict. Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church.

The Two Popes

2019

Blindness poster
6.5

When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine.

Blindness

2008

The Constant Gardener poster
7.0

Justin Quayle is a low-level British diplomat who has always gone about his work very quietly, not causing any problems. But after his radical wife Tessa is killed he becomes determined to find out why, thrusting himself into the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy.

The Constant Gardener

2005

City of Men poster
7.0

Best buddies Acerola and Laranjinha, about to turn 18, discover things about their missing fathers' pasts which will shatter their solid friendship, in the middle of a war between rival drug gangs from Rio's favelas.

City of Men

2007

7 Prisoners poster
7.1

An impoverished teen seeking to escape the clutches of a human trafficker must weigh living up to his moral code against his struggle to survive.

7 Prisoners

2021

Rio, I Love You poster
4.8

The third episode of the Cities of Love franchise, Rio, I Love You is an anthology, created by 10 visionary directors from across the globe. The story line of each segment focuses on an encounter of love in a different neighborhood of the city, demonstrating the distinctive qualities and character of that location. The film serves to bridge gaps between cultures, educating and entertaining the audience, while celebrating unique and universal expressions of love.

Rio, I Love You

2014

The Pope's Toilet poster
7.1

In 1998, a small South American village is in a flurry over the Pope's upcoming visit for the business opportunities that it will provide. While most of the residents plan to sell food at the parade, a smuggler family man decides to build a pay toilet.

The Pope's Toilet

2007

360 poster
5.7

A disparate group of characters unknowingly bond by the sexual choices they make. Consumed by loneliness, a British businessman ponders a rendezvous with a prostitute. The businessman's wife prepares to call it quits with her younger lover. A Brazilian student breaks up with her boyfriend in London. A recovering alcoholic travels to Phoenix in search of his missing daughter. A paroled sex offender struggles to stay composed when propositioned in a Denver airport. A widower's religious devotion is put to a difficult test.

360

2012

Here Comes the Flood poster
NR

An unconventional heist movie about three people locked in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.

Here Comes the Flood

—

Here Comes the Flood poster
NR

An unconventional heist movie about three people locked in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.

Here Comes the Flood

—

VIPs poster
6.4

Marcelo leaves his family and moves to Mato Grosso do Sul, where he learns how to fly airplanes by himself watching the pilots. One day, he responds the call of a drug dealer and uses his boss' plane to help the man to transport his cargo. He is hired by the drug lord to work transporting drugs in his airplanes. When he is arrested by the Federal Police, he does not rat his gang and the leader of the cartel gives a large amount of money as a bonus and asks him to leave the gang since he is known by the police. Marcelo uses the money to promote a party in the Carnival of Recife pretending to be the son of the owner of the Gol (a Brazilian air flight company). He lures the high-society, including the television presenter Amaury Jr. Marcelo is arrested again and is sent to prison. During a rebellion, he uses his leadership to present the claims of the prisoners and help to control the situation.

VIPs

2011

Not by Chance poster
6.9

Enio is a middle-aged man who lives in solitude after a failed relationship. Pedro, 30, dates Teresa, who is moving to her home. He inherited a carpentry from his father and a taste for the pool. When a traffic accident crosses the parallel trajectories of the two, the imponderable imposes itself and the uncontrol begins.

Not by Chance

2007

Exodus: Where I come from is disappearing poster
NR

Observational documentary about people as refugees and asylum seekers in many geographical locations such as Germany, Brazil, Western Sahara, Myanmar, Cuba, South Sudan.

Exodus: Where I come from is disappearing

2016

Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony: A New World poster
7.0

With fireworks forming the word “Rio” in the sky and supermodel Gisele Bundchen shimmering to the tune of “The Girl from Ipanema,” Rio de Janiero welcomed the world to the first Olympic Games in South America with a serious message underlying the celebration: Let’s take care of our planet.

Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony: A New World

2016

The Nutty Boy 2 poster
4.5

In this new adventure, Maluquinho is spending the holidays at the home of his grandfather Tônico (Stênio Garcia), an inventor who lives in a small community in the interior of Minas Gerais. His friends Junim (Samuel Brandão), Lucio (Cauã Bernard Souza), Bocão (João Romeu Filho) and Nina (Fernanda Guimarães) are coming to the city to help Maluquinho organize the circus for the centenary of the city. On this trip, they meet Tatá-Mirim, a small flame that ends up making the city believe that they are being invaded by the Capeta. So they end up living many adventures.

The Nutty Boy 2

1998

From Nowhere: A Portrait of Valter Hugo Mãe poster
NR

Filmed over seven years, the documentary follows Valter Hugo Mãe as he writes his novel “A Desumanização”, across journeys through Iceland, Brazil, Portugal, Colombia, and Macau. A visual meditation on solitude, loss, and belonging, featuring appearances by cartoonist Laerte Coutinho and Icelandic composer Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, mentor of bands such as Sigur Rós and Björk. The film is part of the project “The Meaning of Life”, which director Miguel Gonçalves Mendes has been developing for more than a decade: a series of nine features built as a kaleidoscope of contemporary figures, in which the filmmaker invites us to reflect on what makes us, as humans, unique beings.

From Nowhere: A Portrait of Valter Hugo Mãe

2025

Adrift poster
5.9

A 1980s-set drama about a teenage girl undergoing her sexual awakening when she learns about her father's infidelities.

Adrift

2009

El Revenge poster
6.2

Two friends hit the road to Buenos Aires aboard an orange Opala 72, with a mission: be with as many women as possible. This is all a plan to wash the honor of "Caco", a man who found his girlfriend in bed with an Argentine.

El Revenge

2017

Maids poster
7.1

Five maids in São Paulo are observed in this episodic, impressionistic film. The women interact with each other, ride busses, work, and have longings: Rai for a husband, Créo for her lost daughter, Roxane for a career in modeling. Quitéria is naive, a gull for thieves. Cida has a husband and also a lover. While each woman gets what she wishes for (more or less), it doesn't always make things better.

Maids

2001

Maids poster
7.1

Five maids in São Paulo are observed in this episodic, impressionistic film. The women interact with each other, ride busses, work, and have longings: Rai for a husband, Créo for her lost daughter, Roxane for a career in modeling. Quitéria is naive, a gull for thieves. Cida has a husband and also a lover. While each woman gets what she wishes for (more or less), it doesn't always make things better.

Maids

2001

The Great Green Wall poster
6.2

An epic journey along Africa's Great Green Wall — an ambitious vision to grow a wall of trees stretching across the entire continent to fight against increasing drought, desertification and climate change.

The Great Green Wall

2020

Art poster
NR

Follows three friends, Marc, Serge and Yvan, and one ridiculously expensive, plain white painting. It’s procurement by one friend and differing opinions about what constitutes ‘art’ sparks a conflict among the group that uncovers long-held grievances and tension points in their relationships.

Art

—

José & Pilar poster
7.3

A deeply moving story about love, loss and literature, this documentary follows the days of José Saramago, the Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, and his wife, Pilar del Río. The film shows their whirlwind life of international travel, his passion for completing his masterpiece "The Elephant's Journey", and how their love quietly sustains them throughout.

José & Pilar

2010

Xingu poster
7.4

Three brothers embark on a journey that begins with a kinship with Brazil's indigenous tribes, to their creation of South America's largest national park.

Xingu

2012

Up Against Them All poster
5.2

A story about the lies, treachery and vengeance of a middle-class family living on the outskirts of São Paulo. Four characters try desperately to change their lives, but are unable to escape their destiny.

Up Against Them All

2004

No artwork available
9.0

Reunion of four reportages made by production company "Olhar Eletrônico" between 1983 and 1986, in which an irreverent reporter, Ernesto Varela, a creation of actor/director Marcelo Tas, tackles some hot topics, such as money evasion in Brazil, gold-digging at Serra Pelada, the homeless in São Paulo and a love story spoof.

Olhar Eletrônico

1986

Amanhecer poster
NR

This short film portrays the last hours of a young man before assuming homosexuality. He struggles to tell his father that he is gay, but gets inspired from a conversation with friends.

Amanhecer

2010

The Meaning of Life poster
NR

In The Meaning of Life we will take part on a journey throughout the world to question our existence through the inquiries of a young Brazilian, with a rare hereditary disease with no cure.

The Meaning of Life

2021

Sound & Fury: Film poster
8.0

Follows the struggles of a small theatre company attempting to adapt a Shakespeare play.

Sound & Fury: Film

2010

Sound & Fury: Film poster
8.0

Follows the struggles of a small theatre company attempting to adapt a Shakespeare play.

Sound & Fury: Film

2010

Sound & Fury: Film poster
8.0

Follows the struggles of a small theatre company attempting to adapt a Shakespeare play.

Sound & Fury: Film

2010

Elza: A Mulher do Fim do Mundo poster
NR

A biopic about star Elza Soares, considered one of the greatest samba singers ever and a symbol of the struggle against racism and women discrimination in Brazil.

Elza: A Mulher do Fim do Mundo

—

No artwork available
9.0

A film about weddings, professions, children, travel plans and a train that separates it all.

E No Meio Passa Um Trem

1998

Marly Normal poster
NR

An experimental documentary following the busy life of an office worker in São Paulo, Marly, and how he manages to have a personal life beyond that.

Marly Normal

1983

Punk em São Paulo: Garotos do Subúrbio poster
6.2

In 1983, director Fernando Meirelles read an article in the newspaper about the punks circulating in downtown São Paulo. Half suspicious, he went to see what it was all about. The result is Boys From The Suburbs, his first "most worked"Film.

Punk em São Paulo: Garotos do Subúrbio

1983

Palace II poster
6.8

Two young boys, Laranjinha and Acerola, living in Cidade de Deus, one of the most violent neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, need some money to go to a concert. The "easiest" (and most dangerous) way to get it is working for some drug-dealers.

Palace II

2000

No artwork available
NR

A poetic vision of the city Brasília.

Brasília

1983