About Joaquim Sapinho
Born 1964. Joaquim Sapinho is a Portuguese film director, writer, film producer, screenwriter and film editor, known for Bosnia Diaries.
Joaquim Sapinho (born 1965 at Sabugal, Portugal) is a Portuguese film director. Founder of production company Rosa Filmes, he is considered to be part of The School of Reis film family.
Career Joaquim Sapinho was a student at the Portuguese National Film School (Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema), where he was a student of António Reis, Paulo Rocha and Alberto Seixas Santos, and where he is nowadays a professor of directing for cinema.
He started as a documentarist for television, before directing his first feature. In 1995, with his first picture, Haircut, he gave us a rare glimpse of the Portuguese youth of the 90's, being nominated for the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival.
Working also as a producer and screenwriter, Sapinho is the founder and owner of the independent production company Rosa Filmes, which brought to light other directors as João Pedro Rodrigues and Manuela Viegas.
In 1999, the film Gloria, written by him and the director Manuela Viegas, was in competition at the Berlinale.
In 2003, Sapinho released The Policewoman, his second feature, a story of a mother and her son based on the idea that in the modern times some women might no longer remember what it means to be a mother. It was at the official selection of the Berlin International Film Festival.
In 2005, Sapinho released Bosnia Diaries. Shot in 1996 and 1998, taking almost ten years to complete, it is a cinematic diary documentary about his experiences in Bosnia during and after the Yugoslav Wars. It had ir's world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival.
In 2011, after working for ten years – most of them simultaneously in Bosnia Diaries and in it – Sapinho completes his fourth feature, This Side of Resurrection, which had its world premiere at the official selection of the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Filmography as a director 2011 – This Side of Resurrection (Deste Lado da Ressurreição) 2005 – Bosnia Diaries (Diários da Bósnia) 2003 – The Policewoman (Mulher PolÃcia) 1995 – Haircut (Corte de Cabelo) 1988 – At Waterside (À Beira-Bar) (short film)
Rosa Filmes' filmography 2011 – This Side of Resurrection (Portuguese: Deste Lado da Ressurreição). Directed by Joaquim Sapinho 2011 – What's New About Love? (Portuguese: O Que Há De Novo No Amor?). Directed by Mónica Santana Baptista, Hugo Martins, Rui Santos, Tiago Nunes, Hugo Alves and PatrÃcia Raposo. 2009 – To Die Like a Man (Portuguese: Morrer como um homem). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 2008 – 4 Hearts (Portuguese: 4 Copas). Directed Manuel Mozos 2005 – Bosnia Diaries (Portuguese: Diários da Bósnia). Directed by Joaquim Sapinho 2005 – Two Drifters (Portuguese: Odete). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 2003 – The Policewoman (Portuguese: A Mulher PolÃcia). Directed by Joaquim Sapinho 2000 – The Phantom (Portuguese: O Fantasma). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 1999 – Mal. Directed by Alberto Seixas Santos 1999 – Gloria (Portuguese: Glória). Directed by Manuela Viegas 1999 – Jorge Molder. Directed by José Neves 1998 – A Trip to Expo (Portuguese: Viagem à Expo). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 1998 – José Cardoso Pires Logbook (Portuguese: José Cardoso Pires – Diário de Bordo). Directed by Manuel Mozos 1997 – This is my Home (Portuguese: Esta é a Minha Casa). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 1997 – Happy Birthday! (Portuguese: Parabéns!). Directed by João Pedro Rodrigues 1997 – Portuguese Cinema? (Portuguese: Cinema Português?). Directed Manuel Mozos 1995 – Haircut (Portuguese: Corte de Cabelo). Directed by Joaquim Sapinho 1995 – Cinéma, de notre temps: Shohei Imamura – Le libre penseur. Directed by Paulo Rocha 1994 – Julião Sarmento. Directed by Joaquim Sapinho 1994 – Lisbon in Film (Portuguese: Lisboa no Cinema). Directed Manuel Mozos 1993 – Mr. Portugal in Tokushima (Portuguese: Portugaru San – O Sr. Portugal em Tokushima. Directed by Paulo Rocha
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Important facts
People in Joaquim Sapinho's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Joaquim Sapinho's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Joaquim Sapinho?
Portuguese film director
When was Joaquim Sapinho born?
Joaquim Sapinho was born on 22 August 1964 in Freguesia de Sabugal.
What is Joaquim Sapinho's occupation?
Joaquim Sapinho is a film director, writer, film producer, screenwriter and film editor.
What is Joaquim Sapinho known for?
Joaquim Sapinho is known for Bosnia Diaries.
What nationality is Joaquim Sapinho?
Joaquim Sapinho is Portuguese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joaquim Sapinho. https://biography.guide/joaquim-sapinho/
MLA: "Joaquim Sapinho." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joaquim-sapinho/.
Chicago: "Joaquim Sapinho." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joaquim-sapinho/.
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