Gabriel Mascaro, a multifaceted artist born in 1983, hails from the vibrant city of Recife, Brazil. His documentary debut, Housemaids (Doméstica),made a significant splash at the prestigious IDFA 2012 in Amsterdam, premiering in competition. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey for the talented filmmaker.
Fast forward to 2014, Mascaro's first feature film, Ventos de agosto (August Winds),premiered at the renowned Locarno Film Festival, competing in the main competition. This ambitious project received a special mention, a testament to its artistic merit. The film went on to garner numerous accolades and widespread critical acclaim.
Prior to venturing into feature filmmaking, Mascaro's documentary and video installations had already gained recognition at prominent film festivals and artistic events. These included the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR),Oberhausen, Clermont Ferrand, the British Film Institute (BFI) London, the Guggenheim Museum, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Documentary Fortnight, and the São Paulo Art Biennale.
Mascaro's second feature film, Boi Neon (Neon Bull),premiered at the 2015 Venice Film Festival, followed by its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (Platform Competition). In Venice, the film received the Special Jury Award, a significant achievement. In April 2016, the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York (USA) hosted the first retrospective of Mascaro's work, a testament to his growing international reputation as a visionary filmmaker.
