Guilherme S. Zanella is a screenwriter and a member of the Paradiso Talent Network. He wrote “Cidades Fantasmas”, winner of Best Brazilian Feature at the 22nd It’s All True International Documentary Film Festival (2017); the documentary “Central: O Poder das Facções no Maior Presídio do Brasil” (Panda Filmes); the documentary series “Cidades Fantasmas – A Série” (Canal Brasil, 2018); the fiction series “Banalidade do Mal” (Prime Box Brazil, 2021); and the variety show “Banquete: Experiências Gastronômicas” (BAND-RS, 2015–2016). He worked as script assistant on seasons 3 and 4 of the docu-reality show “Um Dia de Chef” (Boutique Filmes, Discovery). He has participated in major labs and competitions, including the SESC SP/SENAC New Stories Lab (2016), FRAPA Screenwriting Competition (2017), Pitching Forum at FEST – New Directors | New Films Festival (2019), Script Revision Lab – Cine Qua Non Lab (2020), and BASE Residency (2021). He is the screenwriter of two fiction features currently in pre-production: “O Voo do Flamingo” (Miríade Filmes/Globo Filmes/Ciné-Sud Promotion/Telecine), directed by Beatriz Seigner; and “Borda do Mundo”, co-written and directed by Jo Serfaty. In 2024, he wrote a fiction series for Clube Filmes and is currently working on a three-part documentary for Popcon.
Education
- Social Communication (Unisinos, 2010) – Degree in Audiovisual Production with a specialization in Screenwriting.
Filmography
- “CIDADES FANTASMAS” (2017) – Writer. Documentary feature produced by Casa de Cinema de Porto Alegre/Galo de Briga Filmes/Globo Filmes/Globo News. Distributed by Globo Filmes.
- “CIDADES FANTASMAS – A SÉRIE” (2018) – Writer. 8-episode documentary series produced by Casa de Cinema de Porto Alegre/Galo de Briga Filmes. Aired on Canal Brasil.
- “CENTRAL – O PODER DAS FACÇÕES NO MAIOR PRESÍDIO DO BRASIL” (2015) – Script (early draft) and Assistant Editor. Documentary feature produced and distributed by Panda Filmes. Full film available on YouTube.
- “BANALIDADE DO MAL” (2021) – Writer. Fiction series produced by Bonobo Filmes/Vulcana/Galo de Briga Filmes. Aired on Prime Box Brazil.
- “BANQUETE: EXPERIÊNCIAS GASTRONÔMICAS” (2015–2016) – Concept Creator. Variety show produced by Querosene Filmes. Aired on Band RS.
- “UM DIA DE CHEF” – Seasons 3 & 4 (2023) – Script Assistant. Docu-reality series produced by Warner Bros. Discovery/Boutique Filmes. Aired on Discovery+.
- “CORPO CELESTE” (2022) – Writer. Fiction short film produced by Abrolhos Filmes.
Awards, Nominations & Festivals
- “CIDADES FANTASMAS” (2017)
- Best Brazilian Feature, 22nd It’s All True International Documentary Film Festival (2017).
- Best Documentary, Agenda Brasil Festival (2018).
- Best Ibero-American Documentary Nominee, 33rd Guadalajara International Film Festival (2018).
- “CENTRAL – O PODER DAS FACÇÕES NO MAIOR PRESÍDIO DO BRASIL” (2015)
- Official Selection: Festin Lisboa, Florianópolis Audiovisual Mercosul, Festival do Rio, Agenda Brasil in Milan, Barcelona Planet Film Festival.
- Best Portuguese Language Documentary: DocMontevideo (2016).
- “CORPO CELESTE” (2022)
- Official Selection: 33rd São Paulo International Short Film Festival (Kinoforum).
- Nominee: Best Fiction Short – Grande Otelo Awards (2023).
Labs & Development Programs
- “O VOO DO FLAMINGO” – Fiction feature. Writer. In pre-production.
- SESC SP/SENAC New Stories Lab (2016) – Selected
- FRAPA Feature Script Competition (2017) – Finalist
- FEST – New Directors, New Films Pitching Forum (2019) – Selected
- Script Revision Lab – Cine Qua Non Lab (2020) – Selected
- “CIDADE, CINZAS” – Fiction feature. Writer. In development.
- BASE Residency (2021) – Selected
- “BORDA DO MUNDO” – Fiction feature. Writer. In production.
- BrLab (2021) – Selected and awarded with Globo Filmes + Vitrine acquisition
- Brasil Cinemundi (2022) – Selected
- Torino Film Lab Meeting Event (2022) – Selected
- MAFF – Málaga Festival Fund & Co-production Event (2023) – Selected
- Paradiso Incubator (2023) – Selected
- “FREE” – Fiction series. Writer. In development with pilot shot.
- SCULT/FSA Development Grant for Audiovisual Production in Novo Hamburgo/RS (2023) – Awarded
- “ABDUZIDOS ANÔNIMOS” – Fiction series. Writer and Co-creator. In development with pilot shot.
- SCULT/FSA Development Grant for Audiovisual Production in Novo Hamburgo/RS (2023) – Awarded