Born in Recife, Brazil, Kleber Mendonça Filho became a film programmer and critic while making short films. Neighbouring Sounds (2012), his first feature-length film, had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was Brazil’s entry for the Academy Awards. In 2016, Aquarius, starring Sonia Braga, was in competition at the 69th Festival de Cannes before being nominated for César and Independent Spirit Awards. In 2019, Bacurau, co-directed by Juliano Dornelles, was awarded the Jury’s Prize in Cannes. Mendonça Filho is also a programmer for the Instituto Moreira Salles in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and the artistic director of Janela Internacional de Cinema do Recife. In 2023, he returned to Cannes with Pictures of Ghosts, which was selected as a Special Screening.