Cibele Amaral began her career as an actress in Italy, where she studied at the Scuola Internazionale di Teatro di Roma and was introduced to Cinecittà, sparking her interest in directing. Back in Brazil, she studied screenwriting and directing with figures such as Suzana Amaral and Nelson Pereira dos Santos, and worked with José Eduardo Belmonte on short films and three feature-length projects. In Italy, she worked as an assistant editor and producer at Orisa Produzioni, developing projects for Fox, Universal Studios, and other major companies, and later specialized in screenwriting at RAI. Cibele wrote and directed the short “Tragic Moment”, winner of over 30 awards including Gramado, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro, and also directed “Encyclopedia of the Unusual and the Irrational”, another award-winning short. Her feature film debut was with “A Leap of Faith”, followed by “Why Won’t You Cry?”, which received awards both in Gramado and internationally, and “Laugh Not to Cry”. Between 2023 and 2024, she directed “Help Won’t Come”, “Eco-Crazies – An Unsustainable Comedy”, “Shadow Hunters”, and the series “Defendants”. For 2025, she is preparing the horror film “The Dead Man in the Room” and is also the screenwriter of “Falsianne”, directed by Hsu Chien.
Education
- Performing Arts – Bachelor’s degree from Scuola Internazionale di Teatro di Roma.
- Psychology – Bachelor’s degree from Universidade Paulista.
Filmography
- “DEFENDANTS” (2025) – Fiction series. Screenwriter and Director.
- “ECO-CRAZIES – AN UNSUSTAINABLE COMEDY” (2025) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Screenwriter and Director.
- “HELP” (2025) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Screenwriter and Director.
- “NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE” (2024) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Associate Producer.
- “LAUGH NOT TO CRY” (2022) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Screenwriter and Director.
- “SHAKE YOUR CARES AWAY” (2021) – Drama feature. Co-producer.
- “WHY WON’T YOU CRY?” (2021) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Screenwriter and Director.
- “THE VOICE OF SILENCE” (2018) – Drama feature. Associate Producer.
- “SAWED-OFF BARREL” (2018) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Associate Producer.
- “A LEAP OF FAITH” (2011) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Screenwriter and Director.
- “IF NOTHING ELSE WORKS” (2008) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Associate Producer.
- “MY WORLD IN DANGER” (2005) – Fiction feature for theatrical release. Associate Producer.
- “TRAGIC MOMENT” (2003) – Fiction short. Screenwriter and Director.
- “ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE UNUSUAL AND THE IRRATIONAL” (2007) – Fiction short. Associate Producer.
- “SUBTERRANEANS” (2003) – Fiction short. Associate Producer.
Awards and nominations
- LAUGH NOT TO CRY” (2022)
- 26th Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival – Best Supporting Actress (Carolina Monte Rosa)
- 48th Gramado Film Festival – Special Jury Prize
- “IF NOTHING ELSE WORKS” (2008)
- Rio Film Festival (2008) – Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Caroline Abras)
- Legislative Chamber – Best Brasilia Film
- Brasília Film Festival (2008) – Saruê Prize, Best Actor (Cauã Reymond), Best Actress (Caroline Abras)
- Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival (2008) – Best Actor (Cauã Reymond), Best Actress (Caroline Abras)
- Paris Brazilian Film Festival (2008) – Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress
- Brazilian Film Festival of Miami (2008) – Best Actor (Cauã Reymond and João Miguel)
- “MY WORLD IN DANGER” (2005)
- 40th Brasília Brazilian Film Festival – Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film – Critics’ Jury
- “TRAGIC MOMENT” (2003)
- Gramado Film Festival (2004) – Best Short, Audience Award for Best Short, Best Director, Best Actor (André Deca)
- 36th Brasília Brazilian Film Festival (2004) – Audience Award for Best Short, Best Actress (Cibele Amaral), Best Editing (ZéPedro Gollo)
- Malescorto International Short Film Festival (2004) – Audience Award for Best Short
- Curta Cinema Festival (Rio, 2004) – Audience Award for Best Short
- ABCV Showcase of Brasilia Cinema (2003) – Official Jury and Audience Awards for Best Short, Best Screenplay
- “ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE UNUSUAL AND THE IRRATIONAL” (2007)
- 40th Brasília Brazilian Film Festival – Best Actor (Wolney de Assis), Best Original Score (Patrick de Jongh)
- Curta Canoa – Best Actress (Mallú Moraes)
- “SUBTERRANEANS” (2003)
- 36th Brasília Brazilian Film Festival – Best Film by the Legislative Chamber Jury