João Pedro Plácido is a Lisbon-based cinematographer and filmmaker with over 25 years of experience in documentaries, drama, commercials and branded content.
Available for productions across Portugal and internationally, working fluently in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
His work has received several national and international awards and nominations, including a Best Cinematography award and the Gold Hugo for Best Documentary.
2026
Match (Feature)
Dir.: Duarte das Neves
Prod.: BomBom Filmes
2025
Cold Haven (TV series)
Dir.: Tiago Marques
Prod.: SPI
Amílcar (Documentary)
Dir.: Miguel Eek
Prod.: Mosaic Producciones, Les Docs du Nord, Lx Filmes, Sisyfos Film, Korikaxoru Films
2024
Opera Now (TV series)
Dir.: Vasco Mendonça
Prod.: Laranja Azul
2023
O Vento Assobiando nas Gruas (Feature)
Dir.: Jeanne Waltz
Prod.: C.R.I.M
Histórias da Montanha (TV series)
Dir.: Luís Galvão Teles
Prod.: Fado Filmes
2021
Encontro (Feature)
Dir.: François Manceaux
Prod.: Paquita Ramson
2020
A Perfeição (Short)
Dir.: Hugo Vieira da Silva
Prod.: C.R.I.M
2019
Curtir a Pele (Documentary)
Dir.: Inês Gil
Prod.: C.R.I.M
aip Awards 2020
Nominated, Best Cinematography
Bishop Capucci (Documentary) / Dir.: Mohammed Salameh / Prod.: Noon Films
2018
Sousa Martins (Documentary)
Dir.: Justine Lemahieu
Prod.: Ukbar Filmes
Lupo (Documentary)
Dir.: Pedro Lino
Prod.: Ukbar Filmes
Portuguese Film Academy Sophia Awards
Nominated, Sophia Best Documentary Feature
Zero Distance - Renaissance Dam (Documentary)
Dir.: Mohammed Salameh
Prod.: Noon Films
Mysterious Ends - Kamal Al-Sananiri (Documentary)
Dir.: Mohammed Salameh
Prod.: Noon Films
2017
Bovary tout contre Butterfly (TV Movie documentary)
Dir.: Maria Pinto-Martin
Prod.: Sancho et Compagnie
Madre Paula (TV Series)
Dir.: Rita Nunes, Tiago Alvarez Marques
Prod.: Vende-se Filmes
Portuguese Film Academy Sophia Awards 2018
Won, Best TV Series
Expats (TV Series Documentary) / Dir.: Mohammed Salameh, Mohammad Omar, Nasser Farghaly / Prod.: Noon Films
2016
Lydia (Short) / Dir.: Anita Lewton / Prod.: Marnie Productions
Nelson (TV Mini-Series documentary) / Dir.: João Pedro Plácido / Prod.: Imagina Produções
Paul / Dir.: Marcelo Félix / Prod.: C.R.I.M.
2015
Porta Estreita (Documentary) / Dir.: Joana Pontes / Prod.: Best XXI
2014
Volta à Terra (Documentary) / Dir.: João Pedro Plácido / Prod.: O Som e a Fúria
Awards: 6 Wins & 3 Nominations
Portuguese Film Academy Sophia Awards
Nominated, Sophia
Best Documentary Feature
2015
Camerimage
Nominated, Golden Frog / Feature Documentary Films Competition
Chicago International Film Festival
Won, Gold Hugo : Best Documentary
London Film Festival
Nominated, Grierson Award / Documentary Film
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival
Won, Ulysses Award
Won, Youth Award
Best First Feature
Trento Film Festival
Won, Silver Gentian. For its artistic and technical contribution.
2014
Doclisboa International Film Festival
Won, Liscont Award
Best Portuguese Competition Feature-length Film
Won, IADE Award
Best Portuguese Competition Feature-length Film
2013
Entrecampos (Short)
Dir.: João Rosas
Prod.: O Som e a Fúria
2012
De Angola à Contracosta (TV Series documentary) / Dir.: Álvaro Romão / Prod.: Happygénio
Deportado (Documentary) / Dir.: Nathalie Mansoux / Prod.: Terratreme
Panazorean 13'
Won, Best Portuguese Competion Feature-lenght Film
Won, Audience Award
Festival of Migrant Film'14
Won, Special Jury Mention
2010
Li ké Terra (Documentary) / Dir.: Filipa Reis, João Miller Guerra, Nuno Baptista / Prod.: Vende-se Filmes
2010 Doclisboa International Film Festival
Won, CGD Award - Best Portuguese Competition Feature-length Film
Won, Schools Award - Best Portuguese Competition Feature-length Film
Na Escola (Short) / Dir.: Jorge Cramez / Prod.: O Som e a Fúria
2008
A Prenda (Short) / Dir.: Henrique Serra / Prod.: U.B.I.
Via de Acesso (Documentary) / Dir.: Nathalie Mansoux / Prod.: Terratreme
Indie Lisboa'08
Won, Best Portuguese Competition Feature-length Film
Mädchengeschichten (TV Series documentary): Bom Dia, Jana / Dir.: Sabine Michel / Prod.: Gebrueder Beetz
2001
As Regras da Atracção (Video) / Dir.: Jorge Cramez / Prod.: A.P.A.
Instituto Português de Artes e Espectáculos
Won, Revelation Award "Ribeiro da Fonte" 2001
Montage, meine schöne Sorge (TV Short documentary) / Dir.: Maria Salvador / Prod.: H.F.F. – Konrad Wolf
Other activities and interests:
Rock climbing
Alpinism
Snowboard