Mário Bastos

Mário Bastos (born 1986), often known by the stage name Fradique, is an Angolan filmmaker. He is notable as the director of the films Alambamento, Independência and Ar Condicionado. Apart from directing, he is also a writer, producer, assistant director and editor.

Personal life Mario was born in 1986 in Luanda, Angola. As a child, he developed an interest in visual storytelling after receiving his first camera, which led him to explore photography. Bastos experiences with photography helped shape his interest in storytelling and filmmaking. His creative development was supported by Angolan photographer and filmmaker Victorio Henriques, who mentored Bastos and encouraged his creative endeavors. Mario Bastos has continued to maintain strong ties to Luanda, where he contributes to the development of film project centered on Angolan culture and stories.

Career In 2008, Fradique attended the New York Film Academy and obtained his bachelor's degree in fine arts (directing) at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

In 2010, Fradique formed the production company Geração 80 with Jorge Cohen and Tchiloia Lara. In 2011, he attended the Berlinale Talent Campus for further studies. Fradique works with Jorge Cohen, Tchiloia Lara, and Sérgio Afonso together to change the Angola film scene by developing new productions based on fiction and documentary style. From 2010 to 2015, he worked on his first full-length documentary, Independência. The film focuses on Angola's liberation struggle and later won Angola's Culture National Prize for Cinema. The film also won the award for the Best Documentary at the Cameron International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the Durban International Film Festival, Luxor African Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival.

He also directed art-house music videos for Angolan artists such as Nástio Mosquito and Aline Frazão. In 2020, he made his first fiction film, Ar Condicionado, which had its premier at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

Filmography Year Film Role Genre Ref. 2007 Kiari Director, writer Short film 2008 Violent Jake Assistant director, associate producer Documentary 2011 Alambamento Director, writer Short film 2011 Luanda 24/7 Director Short film 2013 Triângulo Director, writer Documentary 2014 Afripedia Angola Writer, editor TV documentary 2015 Independência Director, writer, editor Documentary 2016 Bloody Kind of Love Director Video short 2017 The Kingdom of Casuarinas Director Film 2017 El Último País Assistant editor Documentary 2020 Ar Condicionado Director, writer Film