Bruno Gascon

Bruno Gascon is a Portuguese director and screenwriter passionate about real stories focused on strong subjects. After living and studying in SAE Amsterdam, where he moved after a family tragedy that made him channel all his emotions into writing and cinema studies, Gascon returned to Portugal and started working with national TV as Director on social and cultural documentaries. In 2014, after his return, he wrote and directed the short film "Boy" that won several awards, including the 2015 Rising Star Award at the Canada International Film Festival. In 2015, "Vazio", another short that he wrote and directed, was showcased at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival, and afterward traveled the world to several other festivals. In 2018, he wrote and directed "Carga", his first feature film that has been in the top 5 of the most seen Portuguese movies of 2018. With good box office results in Portugal, good reviews, and sales in several countries the film has also been awarded in some international film festivals and also in Portugal. "Carga" is focused on human trafficking and the polish actress Michalina Olszanska is the main actress among some of the most known Portuguese actors. When he was directing "Carga" he was interested in the subject of missing children. That inspired him to speak with mothers from Portuguese missing children and to write "Shadow", a powerful story about motherhood, love, courage, and hope based on true facts. Due to Covid-19, the film premiere was delayed until 2021. "Shadow" has received two awards at the Barcelona Sant Jordi Festival 2021 and was selected for the Shanghai International Film Festival 2021, Ischia Film Festival 2021, and more festivals that will soon be announced. "Shadow" will be distributed in Portugal by major NOS AUDIOVISUAIS and will be theatrically released by the end of 2021. Wide, the film sales agent has already sold the film to several different territories. Bruno Gascon believes that storytellers have the responsibility to promote critical thinking that's why after "Shadow" he wrote, "The Outlaws", his new feature, that he just finished shooting and where he creates a dystopian world that functions as a metaphorical reflection on how freedom of expression is disappearing and about the danger of the rise of dictatorial and extremist regimes in the world. The Portuguese director is currently monitoring "The Outlaws" post-production and developing new projects.