Vitor Mafra is a screenwriter, director, and editor. He studied Engineering at USP and Communications at ESPM, and later specialized in directing actors at EICTV in Cuba. Vitor began his professional journey at MTV Brazil and, over the years, has written and directed both scripted and documentary series for major industry players such as FOX/Warner, Discovery, Telecine, TNT, Canal Brasil, Gullane, Santa Rita, and Mixer. He started his career as an assistant director for Fernando Meirelles and later joined the roster of directors at O2 Filmes. There, he produced and directed his first short film, Entre Tuas Rodas, which was screened at national and international festivals. His feature debut, Lascados, starring Chay Suede and Paloma Bernardi, was released on Netflix. Among his notable TV projects is the acclaimed biographical series Zé do Caixão (Space/Turner), starring Matheus Nachtergaele, which he both wrote and directed. His documentary series Milton e o Clube da Esquina (Globoplay) won Best TV Series at the Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro in 2021 and was nominated for Best Documentary Script by ABRA the same year. In 2020, he edited the final cut of Bárbara Paz’s You Have to Listen to the Heart and Say: Stopped, winner of the 75th Venice Film Festival. Vitor is also the screenwriter and editor of Primavera nos Dentes, directed by Miguel de Almeida for Canal Brasil and produced by Santa Rita Filmes. Since 2023, he has been co-developing the feature film Dias Gomes with writer Renata Dias Gomes, which explores the months leading up to The Given Word winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. He is also directing Entre Nós, a feature written by José Carvalho and funded by Brazil’s Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA), with production slated for the second half of 2025. Currently, he is wrapping post-production on Johnny e Alaíde, a documentary series on Black artists of the Bossa Nova movement, set to premiere on Canal Brasil in 2026.
Education
- Screenwriting – Literature and Screenwriting, with Ricardo Tiezzi – Roteiraria, 2020.
- TV Series Writers’ Workshop, with José Carvalho – Roteiraria (auditor), 2019.
- 2nd Globosat Meeting for Screenwriters, with Robert McKee, 2014.
- Screenwriting – Comedy and Humor: From the Greeks to Stand-Up, with Newton Cannito, 2011.
- Cinematography Workshop, with D.P. Christian Berger, 2010.
- Advanced Screenwriting, with Miguel Machalski, 2008.
- Film Criticism Course, Cinusp, 2004.
- Acting Direction, EICTV – Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, 2003.
- Cinematography for Television, with Carlos Ebert, 1993.
- Video & Television Production, TV Abril, 1990.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, ESPM – Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, 1989–1993.
- Undergraduate Studies in Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica da USP (USP Polytechnic School), 1989–1990.
- Jazz, Blues & Brazilian Popular Music, Escola Groove, with professor Leyvi, 2001–2003.
Filmography
- “JOHNY E ALAYDE” (2024/post-production) – Series (4 episodes). Creator and Director. In development.
- “ENTRE NÓS” (2024) – Feature Film. Director. Screenplay by José Carvalho. Produced by Roteiraria. In development.
- “DIAS GOMES” (2023/2024) – Feature Film. Screenwriter (in partnership with Renata Dias Gomes). Directed by Luiz Antônio Pilar. In development.
- “PRIMAVERA NOS DENTES” (2023) – Series (4 episodes). Canal Brasil. Screenwriter and Editor.
- “CRIMINAL” (2021) – Series (8 episodes). Mixer. Screenwriter.
- “SANTA DICA” (2021) – Series (4 episodes). Screenwriter.
- “MILTON & O CLUBE DA ESQUINA” (2020) – Series (6 episodes, 26 min each). Canal Brasil. Screenwriter and Director.
- “VOCÊ TEM QUE OUVIR O CORAÇÃO E DIZER: PAROU” (2019) – Feature Film (100 min). Directed by Barbara Paz. Editor.
- “MARIAS” (2017) – Web/TV (18 episodes, 7 min each). Sony. Screenwriter and Director.
- “ZÉ DO CAIXÃO” (2015) – Series (6 episodes, 26 min each). TNT/Space. Screenwriter and Director.
- “MÓVEL MTV” (2015) – Show (20 episodes, 27 min each). MTV. Director.
- “LASCADOS” (2015) – Feature Film (95 min). Telecine/Netflix. Director.
- “CULTURA POP BRASILEIRA” (2013) – Series (40 episodes, 24 min each). Warner. Director.
- “INSIDERS, EXPERIÊNCIAS NO ESPORTE” (2013) – Documentary Series (10 episodes). Discovery. Screenwriter and Director.
- “BICHO PAPÃO” (2010) – Fiction Series (8 episodes, 10 min each). Fox. Director.
- “ENTRE TUAS RODAS” (2007) – Short Film (19 min). Canal Brasil. Festivals: Mostra do Audiovisual Paulista 2007, Festival de Cinema Brasileiro em Barcelona 2008, Cinefantasy 2009. Screenwriter and Director.
- “SAMBA RARO” (2002) – Documentary (30 min). Trama Music. Screenwriter and Director.
- “CELEBRAÇÃO” (2010/2011) – Theater play. Direction, Lighting, and Soundtrack. Last unpublished play in Brazil by Harold Pinter, Nobel Prize in Literature winner.
Commercial Work
- Directed films for Brazil’s leading brands: Unilever, LATAM, Itaú, Rede Globo, Telefônica, TIM, Folha de S.Paulo, C&A, Marisa, Renner, Grendene, Cavalera, GM, Coca-Cola.
- Agencies: Almap BBDO, JWT, Talent, DPZ, Ogilvy, DM9DDB, Loducca, África.
Awards and Nominations
- “MILTON & O CLUBE DA ESQUINA” (2021)
- Brazilian Academy of Cinema – Best Documentary Series.
- “TAM APERTADOS – Agência: DM9DDB” (2002)
- Cannes Lions – Silver Lion (Commercial).
- “ITAU SEGUROS” (2001)
- Professionals of Year Award – Best Campaign.
- “TINTAS RENNER” (1999)
- Professionals of Year Award – Best Campaign.