Fern Silva, born in 1982, is an American-Portuguese artist who began his career as an editor and cameraperson in New York City. His early films were deeply personal, focusing on his connection to Portugal and its culture.
As his work evolved, Silva expanded his scope to explore the profound impact of industry on both culture and the environment. For over a decade, his 16mm films have been showcased at numerous prestigious festivals and institutions, including the Media City, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, Rotterdam, New York, London, Melbourne, and Hong Kong International Film Festivals, as well as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) PS1, the New Museum, the Anthology Film Archive, and the Harvard Film Archive.
Silva's films have received numerous accolades, including prizes from the Ann Arbor Film Festival (Gus Van Sant Award),the 25FPS Festival (Grand Prix),and the Agora Post-Production Award from the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Cinema Scope, Filmmaker Magazine, and Film Comment. In addition, Silva has taught filmmaking at several esteemed institutions, including the University of Illinois at Chicago, Bard College, and Bennington College.
Throughout his career, Silva has received support from various organizations, including the Jerome Foundation, the New York Foundation for the Arts, MacDowell, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. He holds a degree in film from the Massachusetts College of Art and Bard College, and is a fellow at the Film Study Center at Harvard University.
