Flavio Alves is a multifaceted Brazilian film professional, boasting a rich background as a writer, director, and producer.
His journey began in 1998 when he was granted political asylum in the United States, courtesy of the Immigrants and Refugee Rights Clinic at the City University of New York School of Law. This pivotal moment marked the start of a new chapter in his life, as he went on to attend Columbia University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science.
Following his academic pursuits, Alves worked as an assistant to notable figures such as then-New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and then-New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
In 2007, Flavio returned to academia to study film production at New York University, where he received the prestigious Technisphere Award for Outstanding Achievement. This achievement served as a catalyst for his future endeavors, as he went on to direct several films, including The Secret Friend (2010) and Tom in America (2014).
Alves' debut film, The Garden Left Behind (2019),premiered at SXSW, where it won the Audience Award. This critically acclaimed film is an IFP Narrative Lab project and has received support from esteemed organizations such as GLAAD, NALIP, Trans Filmmakers Project, and PFLAG. Furthermore, Flavio is the recipient of numerous grants from organizations like the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Jerome Foundation.
In a pioneering move, Alves utilized eBay as a crowdfunding platform in 2016, selling thousands of donated items online to finance his film. This innovative approach has set a precedent for future filmmakers.
In 2018, Flavio was selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center to participate in the Artist Academy fellowship, a program designed to support the next generation of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. He is also a fellow with the Ryan Murphy's Half Initiative directing program.
As the founder of Queens Pictures LLC, a New York-based film production company, Flavio Alves has established himself as a talented and dedicated filmmaker, committed to pushing boundaries and telling meaningful stories.
