Edgar Morais | |
---|---|
Born | Edgar Miguel Diogo de Morais 25 June 1989 |
Occupation(s) | Actor, director, writer |
Years active | 2003–present |
Edgar Morais (born 25 June 1989) is a Portuguese actor, film director, screenwriter, and film editor. Edgar won the award for Best Actor [1] at Prishtina International Film Festival for his performance in Albania's 95th Academy Awards submission A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On (2022), as well as rave reviews from the international press such as Variety [2] and Screen International . [3] His directorial works include Heatstroke and the award-winning We Won't Forget .
Morais was born in Portugal, to an antique restorer mother and a contractor father. He graduated in acting from Portugal's EPTC. Edgar was also a student of Ivana Chubbuck in LA and Susan Batson in NYC. He divides his time between the USA and Portugal.
Morais made his film acting debut in 2007's From Now On (winner of the Audience Award at Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival), directed by Locarno Film Festival alumna Catarina Ruivo.
Edgar has appeared in multiple projects since including the NBC series CTRL , directed by Robert Kirbyson, in Q'orianka Kilcher's directional debut short-film, Saudade , in Chasing Eagle Rock directed by Erick Avari, alongside Beth Behrs and Michael Welch, in The Monogamy Experiment directed by Amy Rider alongside Shailene Woodley and in Oh Gallow Lay directed by Julian Wayser which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2015 in the Horizons section.
Edgar Morais can also be seen in Marfa Girl 2 , directed by Larry Clark, 2022's Restos do Vento (Remains of the Wind) directed by Tiago Guedes (Cannes Film Festival official selection) and in 2023's Lovely, Dark and Deep directed by Teresa Sutherland (Fantasia Film Festival).
In 2023 Edgar Morais starred in A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On which had its world premiere in competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and went on to screen at many festivals worldwide including 2023's Gothenburg Film Festival and Thessaloniki Film Festival where it won the Fischer Audience Award.
Morais portrayed the controversial British artist Simeon Solomon in 2024's The Worst Man In London directed by Rodrigo Areias and produced by Paulo Branco which screened as an official selection in the Big Screen Competition at 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam with a cast that also includes Albano Jerónimo, Edward Ashley, Simon Paisley Day, Scott Coffey and Carmen Chaplin.
His upcoming acting projects include Victoria Mahoney's Chalk alongside Shiloh Fernandez and Mirrah Folks and João Salgado's Super Past Car.
After directing multiple music videos for bands such as Grammy Awards nominated Shiny Toy Guns and MOTHXR, 2019's Heatstroke starring Leah Pipes, Michael Welch and Paul James Jordan marked Edgar's narrative directorial debut. The short film had its world premiere in competition at IndieLisboa International Film Festival on May 4, 2019. [4] Heatstroke went on to screen in competition at the European Film Award (EFA), Academy Award and BAFTA-qualifying festival PÖFF Shorts - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, FEST New Directors New Films Festival and Method Fest Independent Film Festival among others. The film won CinEuphoria Awards for "Best Screenplay" and "Top Short Film of the Year" and was subsequently broadcast nationally on RTP.
On June 25, 2021, We Won't Forget , the short film directed by Edgar Morais and Luke Eberl, had its world premiere in competition at the Academy Award, BAFTA and Goya-qualifying Palm Springs ShortFest. [5] The film was co-written by the directors and Whitney Able, who stars in the film as a woman whose frustrations boil to the surface while hosting a party for her friends, culminating in a public freakout that turns into collective hysteria. Edgar Morais also acts in the film alongside John Patrick Amedori, Paul James, Davida Williams and Caitlyn Folley, among others. The film screened in competition at the Hamptons International Film Festival, [6] Tirana International Film Festival, [7] Woodstock Film Festival, Rooftop Films [8] and IndieLisboa International Film Festival, among many others and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick [9] and Short of the Week [10]
We Won't Forget won the Grand Jury Prize, as well as the award for Best Editing at Castrovillari Film Festival and the Jury's Honorable Mention at FEST New Directors New Films Festival. [11] and was nominated for Best Fiction Short Film at the 2022 Sophia Awards (Portuguese Academy Award).
Edgar is currently in production on his feature film directorial debut, the USA/Portugal production You Above All, which he also wrote and stars in, co-directing with Luke Eberl.
Edgar is also a photographer. His photography exhibition It Lasts Forever, a selection of moments, portraits, and landscapes spanning the years 2012-2023, from Portugal, France, Albania and the USA, had its inaugural opening at Casa Do Comum in Lisbon, Portugal in March 2024.
For its second public exhibition that took place in Espinho, Portugal, in June and July 2024 at FEST New Directors New Films Festival [12] and expanding on its theme "private made public" the artist recreated a public toilet inside a dark room that was strategically built to be hidden from view and security cameras, inviting the guests to use the space and contribute to its condition however they saw fit, revealing to the public the room's growing worsening degradation state over the course of the exhibit as people glued gum to the walls, wrote offensive writings on the walls, spat and left used condoms, cigarette butts, and soiled tissues in the space.
The exhibit was critically praised, with Diário de Notícias writing: “A notable exhibit. An experience about intimacy, and a wild breath of youth. A perspective that evokes and challenges the spirit of Nan Goldin as well as a naked exploration of California’s culture. [13] "
In 2023 Edgar Morais was awarded with the Best Actor Award [14] at Prishtina International Film Festival for his performance in A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On where he plays the deaf-mute Gezim and has been lauded by the international press including Variety (magazine) and Screen International [15] [16] as "one of the best performances of the year". The film was Albania's official submission to The Oscars.
Edgar won the Grand Jury Prize and the award for Best Editing at Castrovillari Film Festival; the Honorable Mention at FEST New Directors New Films Festival and was nominated for a Portuguese Academy Award (Sophia) for his internationally acclaimed short film We Won't Forget which he wrote and directed.
In 2024, Edgar served on the jury [17] for the fiction feature and short film Gold and Silver Lynx sections of FEST New Directors New Films Festival alongside director Pilar Palomero. He was also an invited featured speaker at the event alongside Kenneth Lonergan, Melissa Leo, and Nadine Labaki. He spoke on the panel "Directing Actors: Techniques and Challenges" at the Directors Hub. He has also served on the jury for other festivals such as Castrovillari Film Festival, Cinalfama Lisbon Film Festival, and Prémios Curtas.
In 2019 Edgar was selected to take part in "Passaporte", an initiative created by the Portuguese Academy of Cinema ( Academia Portuguesa de Cinema ) [18]
Morais made his stage debut in William Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Mirita Casimiro Theater in Lisbon in 2006. He then appeared in many theater productions including Moliere's A Rehearsal at Versailles, Brian Friel's Lovers , Jean Genet's Deathwatch , Arnold Wesker's The Kitchen and in the Golden Globes (Portugal) winning adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , directed by Luís Miguel Cintra, at the Teatro São Luiz in Lisbon.
In 2024 Edgar starred in Craig Viveiros' stage adaptation of Lulu Raczka's play Nothing at ZDB Marvila alongside Samuel Adewunmi.
Year | Title | Director/s | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | From Now On | Catarina Ruivo | Winner of the Audience Award at Rio de Janeiro Film Festival |
2008 | Coach Shane | Drew Renaud | |
2009 | CTRL | Robert Kirbyson | |
2010 | Greece | Sarah Deakins | |
Saudade | Q'orianka Kilcher | ||
Miss Nothing (music video) | Meiert Avis | Single - The Pretty Reckless | |
2011 | Chasing Eagle Rock | Erick Avari | |
You Are The Blood | Rafael Morais | ||
2012 | Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean | Matthew Mishory | |
2015 | The Monogamy Experiment | Amy Rider | |
Oh Gallow Lay | Julian Wayser | Venice Film Festival Horizons section 2015 | |
2018 | Marfa Girl 2 | Larry Clark | |
You See the Moon | Miguel Nunes | CPH:DOX (Next:Wave) 2019, IndieLisboa International Film Festival 2018 (in competition - Short Film Grand Prize) 2018 | |
2019 | Heatstroke | Edgar Morais | IndieLisboa International Film Festival 2019 (in competition - Short Film Grand Prize), FEST New Directors New Films Festival 2019 (in competition - Portuguese Grand Prix), Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Method Fest Independent Film Festival. Nominated for 5 CinEuphoria Awards, winner for "Best Screenplay" and "Top Short Film of the Year" |
2021 | We Won't Forget | Edgar Morais, Luke Eberl | Palm Springs International ShortFest, Hamptons International Film Festival, Tirana International Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, IndieLisboa International Film Festival, Rooftop Films, Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, Shnit Worldwide, Bushwick Film Festival, Caminhos do Cinema Português, Castrovillari Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize winner, Best Editing winner), FEST New Directors New Films Festival (Jury's Honorable Mention), Sophia Awards (nominated, Best Short Film). |
2022 | Restos | Tiago Guedes | Cannes Film Festival Official Selection |
A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On | Gentian Koçi | World premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Official Competition on November 21, 2022; Gothenburg Film Festival selection; Fischer Audience Award winner at 2023's Thessaloniki Film Festival. Best Actor Award winner (Edgar Morais) at 2023's Prishtina International Film Festival. | |
2023 | Lovely, Dark and Depp | Teresa Sutherland | World Premiere in competition at Fantasia Film Festival. [19] |
2024 | The Worst Man In London | Rodrigo Areias | World premiere in the Big Screen Competition at International Film Festival Rotterdam. |
2025 | You Above All | Edgar Morais, Luke Eberl | Post-Production |
Super Past Car | João Salgado | Completed | |
Chalk | Victoria Mahoney | Filming |
The Cannes Film Festival, until 2003 called the International Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The festival was formally accredited by the FIAPF in 1951.
The Sitges Film Festival and also translated as Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia and originally the International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, is an annual film festival held in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain. It specialises in fantasy and horror films, of which it is considered one of the world's foremost international festivals. Established in 1968, the festival takes place every year, usually in early October.
Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to fantasy/science fiction/horror-oriented commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from cinephiles to more popular spectators, with an annual average of 110,000 attendees. It was rated in Variety as one of the 25 leading festivals of the world. In its 27th edition in February 2006 the festival reached 104,000 people and 5,000 media references, both domestic and international, with a record of 187 hours of TV time. Present in Porto were about 100 members of the foreign press and about 250 Portuguese journalists and media representatives.
Bijaya Jena, also known as Dolly Jena or Bijoya Jena, is an Indian actor, film director and producer. She won the Indian National Film Award for the Odia language film Tara.
The 56th Cannes Film Festival took place from 14 to 25 May 2003. French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor and producer Patrice Chéreau was the President of the Jury for the main competition. Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.
Rafael Morais is an actor. He studied theater in Lisbon, Portugal and at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles. Rafael Morais has worked with globally celebrated filmmakers such as Nick Hamm, Marco Martins, Pedro Cabeleira, Luis Prieto, João Canijo, Tiago Guedes, among others.
Catarina Ruivo, Portuguese film director.
The Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Dallas, Texas. The 2025 edition will be held April 25-May 1, 2025.
Whitney Nees Able is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006) and Monsters (2010), and has been featured in Maxim magazine.
The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is an annual film festival founded in 1999 and held on Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The festival presents American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films for five days in June of each year.
Lucas Elliot Eberl is an American actor, director, and pianist best known for his role as Birn in the 2001 film Planet of the Apes and for his film Choose Connor. In 2008, Eberl was described by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "10 Young Americans to Watch". He is currently in production on his second feature film, You Above All.
Aida Begić is a Bosnian film director and screenwriter.
The 33rd Moscow International Film Festival was held from 23 June to 2 July 2011. The Golden George was awarded to the Spanish drama film The Waves directed by Alberto Morais.
Gitanjali Rao is an Indian theatre actress, animator and film maker.
Sudhanshu Saria is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker. Hailing from the Gopaldhara Tea Estate family, he was born in the tea estates of Darjeeling, studied at The Doon School and graduated from Ithaca College in New York, with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Photography. He made his directorial debut with the 2015 romantic drama Loev. Saria won a National Film Award for directing the short film Knock Knock Knock. He is also known for directing and co-writing the high octane espionage drama ULAJH and for showrunning, co-writing and co-directing the young adult series on Amazon Prime Video, Big Girls Don't Cry.
Rima Das is an Indian filmmaker best known for her 2017 film Village Rockstars, which won several national and international awards and became India's official entry for the 90th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Chosen out of 28 other entries in India, it was also the first Assamese film to be submitted for Oscars. The film won India's National Award for Best Film and Best Editor.
Pavel Cuzuioc is an Austrian, Moldovan and Romanian filmmaker.
Kaspar Munk is a Danish film director, writer and producer, best known as the director of HBO series Kamikaze and Danish Netflix series The Rain. Munk is the recipient of five Robert Awards, which is the Danish equivalent of the Academy Awards.
A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On is a 2022 drama film written and directed by Gentian Koçi. It is inspired on a real case where 2 deaf brothers suffer from a degenerative disease that will eventually leave them blind. It stars Edgar Morais and Rafael Morais. The film was selected to represent Albania in the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards. The film was nominated at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in the Critics' Picks Strand section.
We Won't Forget is a 2021 award winning short film directed by Edgar Morais and Luke Eberl. The film world-premiered in competition on June 25, 2021, at the Academy Award, BAFTA and Goya-qualifying Palm Springs ShortFest and went on to screen at more than 25 film festivals worldwide.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)