Thay Mantesso began her screenwriting career as a teenager through Instituto Querô, a social-impact film project based in Santos, Brazil. She co-wrote her first feature film, Socrates (2018), which was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. In 2019, she co-wrote her second feature, 7 Prisoners (2021), earning her first nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Brazilian Academy Awards (Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro). Her portfolio also includes work on acclaimed series such as Sintonia (Netflix) and Use Your Voice (HBO), as well as several projects in various stages of development, including Corrida dos Bichos, Luminika, Escola Sem Muros (a feature film directed by Cao Hamburger), among others.
Education
- Training in Screenwriting – International Cinema Academy (2021)
- Screenwriting for Animation – National Cinema Institute (2020)
- Showrunner: Creation and Production for TV – International Cinema Academy (2020)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Design – São Judas Tadeu University (2019)
- Cinema and Audiovisual – Querô Institute (2016).
Works
- “MANGUE” (2023) – Project. Head Writer. Instituto Querô.
- “LUMINIKA” (2023) – Series. Staff Writer. Head Writer: Mirna Nogueira. Disney.
- “USE SUA VOZ” (2022) – Series (HBO). Staff
- “ESCOLA SEM MUROS” (2022–present) – Feauture film. Screenwriter. Directed by Cao Hamburger. Gullane.
- “MEU NOME É GAL” (2021) – Feature film. Assistant Screenwriter. Writers: Mirna Nogueira, Maíra Bühler, Lô Politi. Paris Filmes.
- “CORRIDA DOS BICHOS” (2021) – Series. Junior Writer (Episode 3, Season 1). Head Writer: Fernando Garrido. O2 Filmes. Globoplay.
- “SINTONIA” (2020) – Series. Junior Writer (Episode 2, Season 2). Head Writer: Denis Nielsen. Gullane. Netflix.
- “7 PRISIONEIROS” (2019) – Feature film. Screenwriter. Directed by Alexandre Moratto. Produced by Fernando Meirelles and Ramin Bahrani. O2 Filmes. Netflix.
- “LUZZU” (2019) – Feature film. Creative Consultant. Directed by Alex Camilleri. Produced by Ramin Bahrani.
- “SÓCRATES” (2016) – Feature film. Screenwriter, Casting Producer, Script Supervisor. Directed by Alexandre Moratto. Produced by Fernando Meirelles and Ramin Bahrani. Instituto Querô / O2 Filmes.
- Writer (Episodes 4 and 8, Season 1). Head Writer: Marina Maria. Floresta.
Awards and Nominations
- “7 PRISIONEIROS” (2021/2022)
- Winner of 5 awards and 26 nominations at international film festivals.
- Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro – Nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
- Image Award (NAACP) – Nominated for Outstanding International Motion Picture.
- Venice Film Festival – Winner of the Sorriso Diverso Venezia Award for Best Foreign
- Language Film and recipient of a Special Mention for the Fondazione Fai Persona
- Lavoro Ambiente Award.
- Selected for the top screenwriting development grant in the U.S., including a two-month artistic residency in San Francisco.
- “SÓCRATES” (2019)
- John Cassavetes Award – Nominated for Best Original Screenplay.