Manoel de Oliveira was born in Porto, Portugal on December 11, 1908, to Francisco José de Oliveira and Cândida Ferreira Pinto. His family were wealthy industrialists. Oliveira attended school in Galicia, Spain and his goal as a teenager was to become an actor. He enrolled in Italian film-maker Rino Lupo's acting school at age 20, but later changed his mind when he saw Walther Ruttmann's documentary Berlin: Symphony of a City. This prompted him to direct his first film, also a documentary, titledDouro, Faina Fluvial (1931). He also acted in the second Portuguese sound film, A Canção de Lisboa (1933). His first feature film came much later, in 1942. Aniki-Bóbó, a portrait of Oporto's street children, was a commercial failure when it opened, and its merit only came to be recognised over time. This drawback forced Oliveira to abandon other film projects he was involved in, and to dedicate himself to running his family vineyard. He re-emerged onto the film scene in 1956 with The Artist and the City, a work that marked a turning point in Oliveira's conception of the cinema. In 1963, O Acto de Primavera (The Rite of Spring), a documentary depicting an annual passion play, marked a turning point for his career. This was shortly followed by A caça (The Hunt), a grim feature film that contrasted with the happy tones of his previous documentary. Despite the widespread acclaim garnered by both films, he would not return to the director's seat until the 1970s. Since 1990 (when he turned 82), he has made at least one film each year. Oliveira has said that he direct movies for the sheer pleasure of doing it, regardless of critical reaction. He maintains a quiet life away from the spotlights, despite multiple honours such as those of the Cannes, Venice and Montreal film festivals. He has been awarded two Career Golden Lions in 1985 and 2004 and a golden palm for his lifetime achievements in 2008.
| 2015 | 1 Século de Energia - Director |
| 2015 | 1 Século de Energia - Director of Photography |
| 2014 | O Velho do Restelo - Director |
| 2014 | O Velho do Restelo - Screenplay |
| 2014 | Chafariz das Virtudes - Director |
| 2014 | Henri Langlois vu par... - Director |
| 2012 | Centro Histórico - Director |
| 2012 | Centro Histórico - Screenplay |
| 2012 | Mundo Invisível - Director |
| 2012 | Mundo Invisível - Writer |
| 2012 | Gebo et l'ombre - Director |
| 2012 | Gebo et l'ombre - Screenplay |
| 2012 | O conquistador conquistado - Director |
| 2012 | O conquistador conquistado - Screenplay |
| 2010 | O Estranho Caso de Angélica - Director |
| 2010 | O Estranho Caso de Angélica - Writer |
| 2010 | Painéis de São Vicente de Fora: Visão Poética - Director |
| 2010 | Painéis de São Vicente de Fora: Visão Poética - Writer |
| 2009 | Singularidades de uma Rapariga Loura - Director |
| 2009 | Singularidades de uma Rapariga Loura - Editor |
| 2009 | Singularidades de uma Rapariga Loura - Screenplay |
| 2008 | O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta - Director |
| 2008 | O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta - Director of Photography |
| 2008 | O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta - Producer |
| 2008 | O Poeta Doido, o Vitral e a Santa Morta - Writer |
| 2008 | Romance de Vila do Conde - Director |
| 2008 | Romance de Vila do Conde - Director of Photography |
| 2008 | Romance de Vila do Conde - Producer |
| 2008 | Romance de Vila do Conde - Screenplay |
| 2007 | Chacun son cinema ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumiere s'eteint et que le film commence - Director |
| 2007 | Chacun son cinema ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumiere s'eteint et que le film commence - Writer |
| 2007 | Cristóvão Colombo - O Enigma - Director |
| 2007 | Cristóvão Colombo - O Enigma - Screenplay |
| 2007 | Rencontre unique - Director |
| 2006 | Belle Toujours - Director |
| 2006 | Belle Toujours - Writer |
| 2006 | O Improvável Não é Impossível - Director |
| 2006 | O Improvável Não é Impossível - Writer |
| 2006 | Espelho Mágico - Director |
| 2006 | Espelho Mágico - Writer |
| 2005 | Do visível ao invísivel - Art Direction |
| 2005 | Do visível ao invísivel - Director |
| 2005 | Do visível ao invísivel - Editor |
| 2005 | Do visível ao invísivel - Screenplay |
| 2004 | O Quinto Império - Ontem Como Hoje - Director |
| 2004 | O Quinto Império - Ontem Como Hoje - Screenplay |
| 2003 | Um Filme Falado - Director |
| 2003 | Um Filme Falado - Writer |
| 2002 | O Princípio da Incerteza - Director |
| 2002 | O Princípio da Incerteza - Editor |
| 2002 | O Princípio da Incerteza - Screenplay |
| 2001 | Porto da Minha Infância - Director |
| 2001 | Porto da Minha Infância - Writer |
| 2001 | Je rentre à la maison - Director |
| 2001 | Je rentre à la maison - Screenplay |
| 2000 | Palavra e Utopia - Director |
| 2000 | Palavra e Utopia - Writer |
| 1999 | La Lettre - Director |
| 1999 | La Lettre - Screenplay |
| 1998 | Inquietude - Director |
| 1998 | Inquietude - Screenplay |
| 1997 | Viagem ao Princípio do Mundo - Director |
| 1997 | Viagem ao Princípio do Mundo - Writer |
| 1997 | En une poignée de mains amies - Director |
| 1997 | En une poignée de mains amies - Screenplay |
| 1996 | Party - Director |
| 1996 | Party - Screenplay |
| 1995 | O Convento - Director |
| 1995 | O Convento - Editor |
| 1995 | O Convento - Writer |
| 1994 | A Caixa - Adaptation |
| 1994 | A Caixa - Director |
| 1994 | A Caixa - Editor |
| 1994 | A Caixa - Writer |
| 1993 | Anılar ve İtiraflar - Director |
| 1993 | Anılar ve İtiraflar - Editor |
| 1993 | Anılar ve İtiraflar - Screenplay |
| 1993 | Vale Abraão - Director |
| 1993 | Vale Abraão - Editor |
| 1993 | Vale Abraão - Screenplay |
| 1992 | O Dia do Desespero - Director |
| 1992 | O Dia do Desespero - Editor |
| 1992 | O Dia do Desespero - Screenplay |
| 1991 | A Divina Comédia - Director |
| 1991 | A Divina Comédia - Editor |
| 1991 | A Divina Comédia - Screenplay |
| 1991 | A Divina Comédia - Writer |
| 1990 | 'Non', ou a Vã Glória de Mandar - Director |
| 1990 | 'Non', ou a Vã Glória de Mandar - Editor |
| 1990 | 'Non', ou a Vã Glória de Mandar - Screenplay |
| 1988 | A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional - Director |
| 1988 | A Propósito da Bandeira Nacional - Producer |
| 1988 | Os Canibais - Director |
| 1988 | Os Canibais - Editor |
| 1988 | Os Canibais - Screenplay |
| 1986 | Mon Cas - Director |
| 1986 | Mon Cas - Screenplay |
| 1986 | Simpósio Internacional de Escultura em Pedra - Director |
| 1986 | Le Soulier de Satin - Director |
| 1986 | Le Soulier de Satin - Screenplay |
| 1984 | Lisboa Cultural - Director |
| 1984 | Lisboa Cultural - Editor |
| 1983 | Nice - À propos de Jean Vigo - Director |
| 1981 | Francisca - Director |
| 1981 | Francisca - Screenplay |
| 1979 | Amor de Perdição - Director |
| 1979 | Amor de Perdição - Screenplay |
| 1975 | Benilde ou a Virgem Mãe - Director |
| 1975 | Benilde ou a Virgem Mãe - Editor |
| 1975 | Benilde ou a Virgem Mãe - Screenplay |
| 1972 | O Passado e o Presente - Director |
| 1972 | O Passado e o Presente - Editor |
| 1972 | O Passado e o Presente - Producer |
| 1972 | O Passado e o Presente - Screenplay |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Director |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Director of Photography |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Editor |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Producer |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Screenplay |
| 1965 | As Pinturas do Meu Irmão Júlio - Sound Designer |
| 1964 | Villa Verdinho - Uma Aldeia Transmontana - Director |
| 1964 | A Caça - Director |
| 1964 | A Caça - Director of Photography |
| 1964 | A Caça - Editor |
| 1964 | A Caça - Producer |
| 1964 | A Caça - Sound Designer |
| 1964 | A Caça - Writer |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Director |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Director of Photography |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Editor |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Producer |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Screenplay |
| 1963 | Acto da Primavera - Sound |
| 1959 | O Pão - Director |
| 1959 | O Pão - Director of Photography |
| 1959 | O Pão - Editor |
| 1959 | O Pão - Producer |
| 1959 | O Pão - Screenplay |
| 1959 | O Pão - Sound Designer |
| 1956 | O Pintor e a Cidade - Director |
| 1956 | O Pintor e a Cidade - Director of Photography |
| 1956 | O Pintor e a Cidade - Editor |
| 1956 | O Pintor e a Cidade - Producer |
| 1956 | O Pintor e a Cidade - Screenplay |
| 1942 | Aniki-Bóbó - Co-Producer |
| 1942 | Aniki-Bóbó - Director |
| 1942 | Aniki-Bóbó - Editor |
| 1942 | Aniki-Bóbó - Screenplay |
| 1941 | Famalicão - Director |
| 1941 | Famalicão - Producer |
| 1941 | Famalicão - Sound |
| 1941 | Famalicão - Writer |
| 1938 | Miramar, Praia das Rosas - Director |
| 1938 | Miramar, Praia das Rosas - Editor |
| 1938 | Miramar, Praia das Rosas - Executive Producer |
| 1938 | Miramar, Praia das Rosas - Screenplay |
| 1938 | Já Se Fabricam Automóveis em Portugal - Director |
| 1938 | Já Se Fabricam Automóveis em Portugal - Editor |
| 1938 | Já Se Fabricam Automóveis em Portugal - Executive Producer |
| 1938 | Já Se Fabricam Automóveis em Portugal - Writer |
| 1937 | Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo - Director |
| 1937 | Os Últimos Temporais - Cheias do Tejo - Director of Photography |
| 1932 | Estátuas de Lisboa - Director |
| 1932 | Estátuas de Lisboa - Director of Photography |
| 1932 | Estátuas de Lisboa - Screenplay |
| 1932 | Hulha Branca - Director |
| 1932 | Hulha Branca - Editor |
| 1932 | Hulha Branca - Executive Producer |
| 1932 | Hulha Branca - Writer |
| 1931 | Douro, Faina Fluvial - Director |
| 1931 | Douro, Faina Fluvial - Editor |
| 1931 | Douro, Faina Fluvial - Writer |
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