Draft:Ava Ferrera Film Director
Ava Ferrera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor |
| Website | https://www.avaferrera.com |
Ava Ferrera (/ˈeɪvə fəˈrɛrə/ AY‑vuh Fuh‑RER‑Rah) is a Portuguese film director and writer. Based in Madeira, Ferrera works across writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. According to JM Madeira, Ferrera’s aesthetic is “rooted in emotion, elegance and mystery” and draws from the French New Wave, film noir, and poetic realism.[1]
Career
[edit]Short films and festival recognition (2025)
[edit]Ferrera’s first short film was Echoes of the Past, a documentary short exploring tradition, heritage, and cultural memory. The film won:
- Best Documentary Short at the Paris Film Awards — Paris, France[2]
- Best Documentary Short at the Florence Film Awards — Florence, Italy[2]
- Gold for Best Documentary Short at the Hollywood Gold Awards — California, United States[2]
The same film also garnered nominations for Best Documentary Short at the:
- Tokyo International Short Film Festival — Tokyo, Japan
- Seoul International Short Film Festival — Seoul, South Korea
- London Indie Film Festival — London, England[2]
- Sweden Film Awards — Sweden[2]
- East Village New York Film Festival — New York, USA[2]
- RED Movie Awards — Reims, France[2]
- Rome Prisma Film Awards — Rome, Italy[2]
Ferrera also received a nomination for Best Director at the London Indie Film Festival. She has gained recognition for narrative shorts and experimental cinema. According to festival juries, she “continues to affirm herself as one of the most exciting emerging filmmakers on the international stage.”[3]
Echoes of the Past received strong reception at several film festivals. The Florence Film Awards described the short as “a powerful and intense journey into nature, tradition, and human bonds.” The London Indie Film Festival also praised it as “a gripping and immersive work” highlighting Ferrera’s human-centered storytelling.[4]
Feature film debut (2025)
[edit]Ferrera’s first feature film is The Art of Fermentation: From Orchard to Table, a documentary exploring craft, tradition, and community, written by Luis Mendonça and directed by Ava Ferrera. The feature is in post-production and scheduled for release in 2026.
Upcoming projects (2026)
[edit]Ferrera is in pre-production for three short films:
- The Last Sacrament (horror) — The Last Sacrament at IMDb
- Moth (drama) — Moth at IMDb
- The Crimson Palm (thriller) — The Crimson Palm at IMDb
All three are written and directed by Ferrera and expected to complete in late 2026.
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Echoes of the Past | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2025 | The Art of Fermentation: From Orchard to Table | Yes | No | Yes | Feature documentary |
| 2026 | The Last Sacrament | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2026 | Moth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2026 | The Crimson Palm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
Personal life
[edit]Ferrera resides in Madeira, where she writes and makes films inspired by the island’s landscapes.[5] She is also a painter; her debut exhibition, Dark Paradise Collection, was held in 2019 and featured on RTP News for its “exotic feminine figures and striking visual narratives.”[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Filme filmado na Madeira recebe reconhecimento internacional". JM Madeira (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cardoso, Francisco José. "Madeira é cenário de duas curtas-metragens: "The Last Sacrament" e "Moth", realizados por Ava Ferrera". DNOTICIAS.PT (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ "Realizadora radicada na Madeira ganha prémio de ouro nos Hollywood Gold Awards". JM Madeira (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ "In Focus: Film Director Ava Ferrera". Ava Ferrera Films. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ Cardoso, Francisco José. "Madeira é cenário de duas curtas-metragens: "The Last Sacrament" e "Moth", realizados por Ava Ferrera". DNOTICIAS.PT (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ^ "Ava Ferrera expôs pela primeira vez" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-11-19.