Ricardo Leite
Studied film and video and theatre at the Escola Superior Artística do Porto between 1998 and 2002.
Since 1999, has organised and taken part in several film showcases and exhibitions, participating in events across Europe, Morocco, Brazil and Cape Verde. Collaboration and professional work include institutions such as Cineclube do Porto, Cineclube Amazonas Douro and the Associação de Iniciativas Culturais e Artísticas (AICART), in Porto.
A founding partner of the Átomo47 project, the country’s only independent film laboratory, inaugurated in 2007.
After working predominantly in experimental cinema and on film since 2002, returned to the documentary genre with the feature-length video film Mazagão, a água que volta (2011), supported by ICA and RTP. Also works as a director of photography on projects shot on film, mainly 16mm. Selection for the 6th edition of the Berlinale Talent Campus at the Berlin Film Festival recognised work developed in experimental cinema on film.
Supervises internships for students from art schools such as the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts Angers–Le Mans in Tours, France (Erasmus programme), IPCI – Porto, and the Escola Superior Artística do Porto. Currently a PhD candidate in Art Education at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, with the thesis Biodegradable processes in photographic and cinematographic film, co-supervised by the renowned chemist and physicist Scott Williams, inventor of the coffee-based film developer “caffenol”.
In 2016, undertook a residency at LIFT – Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, Canada, one of the most renowned institutions dedicated to experimental cinema, where a film was produced and a workshop on alternative processes in cinematographic film was led. Involved in the independent laboratory projects Torre and Casa do Xisto, which also host international artist residencies.
As a filmmaker, the practice focuses primarily on documentary, while embracing hybrid languages that combine fiction and experimental elements. Currently shooting the short documentary Áureos, about Aurélio da Paz dos Reis and Aurélia de Sousa, produced by Foi Bonita a Festa and supported by Filmaporto and ICA.
Since 1999, has organised and taken part in several film showcases and exhibitions, participating in events across Europe, Morocco, Brazil and Cape Verde. Collaboration and professional work include institutions such as Cineclube do Porto, Cineclube Amazonas Douro and the Associação de Iniciativas Culturais e Artísticas (AICART), in Porto.
A founding partner of the Átomo47 project, the country’s only independent film laboratory, inaugurated in 2007.
After working predominantly in experimental cinema and on film since 2002, returned to the documentary genre with the feature-length video film Mazagão, a água que volta (2011), supported by ICA and RTP. Also works as a director of photography on projects shot on film, mainly 16mm. Selection for the 6th edition of the Berlinale Talent Campus at the Berlin Film Festival recognised work developed in experimental cinema on film.
Supervises internships for students from art schools such as the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts Angers–Le Mans in Tours, France (Erasmus programme), IPCI – Porto, and the Escola Superior Artística do Porto. Currently a PhD candidate in Art Education at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, with the thesis Biodegradable processes in photographic and cinematographic film, co-supervised by the renowned chemist and physicist Scott Williams, inventor of the coffee-based film developer “caffenol”.
In 2016, undertook a residency at LIFT – Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, Canada, one of the most renowned institutions dedicated to experimental cinema, where a film was produced and a workshop on alternative processes in cinematographic film was led. Involved in the independent laboratory projects Torre and Casa do Xisto, which also host international artist residencies.
As a filmmaker, the practice focuses primarily on documentary, while embracing hybrid languages that combine fiction and experimental elements. Currently shooting the short documentary Áureos, about Aurélio da Paz dos Reis and Aurélia de Sousa, produced by Foi Bonita a Festa and supported by Filmaporto and ICA.
Filmography
2023 – Lucefece (86 min, 2023, documentary). Premiered at DocLisboa Film Festival; winner of Best Film in the Cinema Falado section (Portuguese-language films) at Porto/Post/Doc – Caminhos do Cinema Português. Released in commercial cinemas in 2025. Broadcast on the TVCine channel in 2025.
2022 – Maçãs Azuis (85 min, 2022, documentary). Premiered at DocLisboa Film Festival, Porto/Post/Doc – Caminhos do Cinema Português, and MDoc – Melgaço International Documentary Film Festival. Broadcast on RTP2 in 2023 and 2024.
2016 – Mãos Cortadas (18 min, 2016, documentary). Martil International Film Festival, Morocco; Jury Prize.
2011 – Mazagão, a água que volta (54 min, 2011, documentary). Supported by ICA / RTP. Screened at the Panazorean International Documentary Film Festival and the Caminhos do Cinema Português Festival in Coimbra; broadcast on RTP2 in 2016.
2008 – Busca da Sacralidade (8 min, 2008, Super 8, documentary). Screened at the Festival des Cinémas Différents de Paris and eTIFF, Colorado, USA.
2003 – Os Pés e o Espírito (8 min, 2003, Super 8, documentary). Premiered at Cine-Teatro Campo Alegre, Porto; screened at TIFF, Colorado, USA.
2003 – Touro Branco (13 min, Super 8, documentary).
2002 – Abluere Tenebras (8 min, Super 8, documentary). Screened at the Arouca Film Festival in 2003.
2001 – Soajo (15 min, documentary). Screened at the Odisseia das Imagens Festival, part of Porto 2001 – European Capital of Culture.
2023 – Lucefece (86 min, 2023, documentary). Premiered at DocLisboa Film Festival; winner of Best Film in the Cinema Falado section (Portuguese-language films) at Porto/Post/Doc – Caminhos do Cinema Português. Released in commercial cinemas in 2025. Broadcast on the TVCine channel in 2025.
2022 – Maçãs Azuis (85 min, 2022, documentary). Premiered at DocLisboa Film Festival, Porto/Post/Doc – Caminhos do Cinema Português, and MDoc – Melgaço International Documentary Film Festival. Broadcast on RTP2 in 2023 and 2024.
2016 – Mãos Cortadas (18 min, 2016, documentary). Martil International Film Festival, Morocco; Jury Prize.
2011 – Mazagão, a água que volta (54 min, 2011, documentary). Supported by ICA / RTP. Screened at the Panazorean International Documentary Film Festival and the Caminhos do Cinema Português Festival in Coimbra; broadcast on RTP2 in 2016.
2008 – Busca da Sacralidade (8 min, 2008, Super 8, documentary). Screened at the Festival des Cinémas Différents de Paris and eTIFF, Colorado, USA.
2003 – Os Pés e o Espírito (8 min, 2003, Super 8, documentary). Premiered at Cine-Teatro Campo Alegre, Porto; screened at TIFF, Colorado, USA.
2003 – Touro Branco (13 min, Super 8, documentary).
2002 – Abluere Tenebras (8 min, Super 8, documentary). Screened at the Arouca Film Festival in 2003.
2001 – Soajo (15 min, documentary). Screened at the Odisseia das Imagens Festival, part of Porto 2001 – European Capital of Culture.
Áureos, documentary, in production