Pedro Pinho's life has been a veritable odyssey, with his presence being felt in a multitude of cities around the world. He has made Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, his home base, where he has delved into the world of cinema. However, his wanderlust soon got the better of him, and he set off for the City of Light, Paris, where he further honed his craft. The vibrant cultural scene of Barcelona, Spain, was next to capture his imagination, and he spent time there, soaking up the artistic atmosphere. But his travels didn't stop there, as he made his way to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and later to Mindelo, a charming town on the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Throughout his peripatetic journey, Pinho has been driven by a passion for cinema, and his experiences have undoubtedly influenced his work in profound ways.
The cinematic odyssey of this individual commenced with the collaborative endeavour of co-directing the documentary "Bab Sebta" alongside Frederico Lobo, a project that made its debut at the prestigious FID Marseille film festival in the year 2008. Subsequently, the documentary garnered widespread acclaim, ultimately claiming the coveted Marseille Espérance Award. Furthermore, "Bab Sebta" received numerous accolades, including the Best Documentary Film Award at the esteemed DocLisboa festival in Portugal, as well as the ForumDoc BH festival in Brazil, solidifying its reputation as a standout in the world of documentary filmmaking.
Pinho's narrative feature film, "Um Fim Do Mundo/The End of the World", made its debut at the prestigious Berlin Festival in the year 2013, marking a significant milestone in the filmmaker's career. This critically acclaimed work went on to receive accolades at the Coimbra Caminhos do Cinema Português, a prominent platform showcasing Portuguese cinema. Furthermore, the film earned a nomination for the Portuguese Golden Globe awards, a testament to its artistic merit and widespread recognition.
In the year 2014, a documentary film entitled "As Cidades e as Trocas/Trading Cities" made its premiere at the renowned FID Marseille film festival, with Luisa Homem serving as co-director. This cinematic masterpiece was subsequently showcased at the prestigious Art of The Real festival, held within the walls of the esteemed Lincoln Center in New York City, as well as at the DocLisboa festival.
Pinho's feature-length fiction film, "A Fábrica de Nada/The Nothing Factory", made its grand premiere at the prestigious Cannes Festival Directors’ Fortnight in 2017, garnering widespread acclaim as it took home the esteemed FIPRESCI International Critics award.
Since its debut, "A Fábrica de Nada" has amassed an impressive collection of around 20 awards from film festivals around the world, a testament to its widespread critical acclaim.
Not only did it receive widespread critical acclaim, with critics hailing it as the best film of the year, but it also received special recognition from prominent publications, including the Público newspaper, which named it the best film of 2017, and Film Comment, an American magazine, which declared it the best film without commercial distribution in the USA.
The German newspaper, Die Zeit, also weighed in, dubbing it "one of the most important films of today", further solidifying its reputation as a groundbreaking and influential work.
"A Fábrica de Nada" was commercially distributed in numerous countries, including Portugal, France, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy, China, Belgium, the former Yugoslavia, and Argentina, making it a truly global phenomenon.
Pinho's "A Fábrica de Nada/The Nothing Factory" is a film that has left a lasting impact on the world of cinema, and its numerous accolades and widespread recognition are a testament to its enduring influence.
Pinho's films have been showcased at numerous prestigious film festivals, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Lincoln Center, as well as the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and the British Film Institute (BFI). His work has also been featured at the Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA),the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA),and the Serralves Museum in Portugal. Additionally, Pinho's films have been screened at the FID Marseille film festival, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF),the Rotterdam Film Festival, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH DOX),and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, among many others.
In the year 2009, a significant milestone was reached as Pinho co-founded Terratreme, a collective of five filmmakers that has since evolved into a prominent and influential producer of Portuguese cinema, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Within the walls of Terratreme, Pinho has had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of talented directors, including the esteemed Luisa Homem, Leonor Noivo, Tiago Hespanha, Susana Nobre, João Salaviza, Filipa Reis, and Miller Guerra, as well as the accomplished Basil da Cunha.
