Marcelo Abreu

Marcelo Abreu Góis é um cineasta baiano com sólida atuação na criação e direção de documentários que exploram as raízes culturais, espirituais e ancestrais do Brasil. Seu trabalho se caracteriza por uma abordagem sensível, etnográfica e estética, valorizando o sagrado, a oralidade e os saberes tradicionais das comunidades quilombolas, indígenas e ribeirinhas.

Com formação em Comunicação Social e especialização em documentário de criação pela Universidade Autônoma de Barcelona (UAB), Marcelo desenvolve narrativas documentais que flertam com a poesia, o realismo mágico e o ensaio antropológico. Através da fotografia contemplativa e da escuta atenta, seus filmes buscam captar não apenas os fatos, mas também a atmosfera espiritual e simbólica dos sujeitos retratados.

Seu estilo é marcado por uma câmera imersiva e respeitosa, montagem poética, e uma escuta atenta que permite que os próprios sujeitos conduzam a narrativa. Seus filmes transitam entre o realismo mágico e o ensaio etnográfico, propondo uma linguagem própria que aproxima o espectador de um Brasil profundo, espiritual e resiliente. Entre suas obras de destaque estão o longa-metragem Sede de Rio (2024) com previsão de lançamento em setembro/25 nas salas de cinema de todo o país, o média-metragem Sagrado Compor (2023), e as séries Ofícios em Extinção (2019) e Orquestra do Mundo (2015–2019), entre outras produções exibidas em festivais nacionais e internacionais, canais de TV e plataformas digitais.

A inspiração de Marcelo vem das raízes afro-brasileiras, indígenas e sertanejas, do sincretismo religioso, da oralidade e da força dos territórios tradicionais. Seu cinema é, ao mesmo tempo, testemunho e celebração — uma forma de resistência cultural e afirmação identitária.

T hroughout the years, I have dedicated my life to immersing myself in ancestral cultures, seeking not only to capture the visible reality but also the magic that permeates everyday life. I was born in Salvador, a historically rich city, imbued with the colors, sounds, and rhythms of Northeastern Brazilian culture. From a young age, I felt a profound connection to this heritage and a restlessness regarding the underlying meanings of the images that surrounded me.

For me, documentary filmmaking is a spiritual quest, an exploration of the fundamental questions that permeate human existence. Through the lens of my camera, I sought answers to questions about the purpose of life, the nature of happiness, the meaning of suffering, and the transcendence of everyday experience. In each film I create, I weave a tapestry of intertwined stories, an odyssey that leads me to confront my own weaknesses, inquiries, and discoveries. My approach is marked by meticulous research and empathy with my characters. I aim not only to capture reality but also to reveal the layers of meaning that often go unnoticed. My camera is an extension of myself, a tool to explore the human condition and unravel the secrets of the world and the inner self.

By capturing the essence of Northeastern Brazilian culture in my works, I aim to retrieve the collective memory and stimulate reflection on the importance of preserving traditions in an increasingly globalized and homogenized world. My documentaries are more than accounts; they are invitations to a sensory journey into Northeastern culture, where popular festivals, craftsmanship, music, and dance come to life, revealing the richness and diversity that permeate the region.

Within this enriching context, I had the honor of directing the production of a feature film titled “Thirst for the River.” This work is a living testimony to the spiritual journey of the last navigator who ventured through the majestic waters of the São Francisco River. Through this film, we sought not only to document but also to celebrate the spiritual and cultural richness that permeates this unique landscape. Every scene and dialogue were carefully woven to convey the essence and depth of the traditions that shape this region and its communities.

I hold a degree in Social Communication from the Catholic University of Salvador, with specializations in dramaturgy and strategies for approaching “creative documentary” from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). I was a recipient of the scholarship program “IBERMEDIA” for Latin American filmmakers. I participated in the workshop on dramaturgy and screenplay with the filmmaker and writer Orlando Senna, founder of the film school in Cuba and a native of Lençóis (BA).

My most recent works include the production of the feature film “Thirst for the River,” the multi-season TV series titled “Orchestra of the World,” broadcast on Canal Brasil, tv futura, and globo play, the series “Endangered Trades” with 6 episodes of 26 minutes about the traditional professions of Northeastern Brazil that are disappearing, and the project “The Other Side of the River,” approved by Ancine for the development of a documentary feature film screenplay.

Diving into the essence of documentary filmmaking, I found a mirror that reflects not only the world outside, but also the universe within me. Every character I encountered on my journeys, every story I captured, echoes the different facets of my own journey. Every moment of authenticity I witnessed on screen is like a reminder that, in the end, we are all part of the same larger, intertwined, and interconnected story.