Rui Xavier

Rui Xavier is a filmmaker, cinematographer and visual artist living in Lisbon, Portugal. Born in Oporto, he completes his bachelors degree in Audiovisual Communication at the Oporto Politechnics where he grew an interest in photography and film. By 1996 continues his studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff doing a Post Graduation course in Journalism.

In 1998 moves to London to work as a photographer for the London based British newspaper The Independent. In 1999 returns to Portugal and in 2000 is the founder of the photographers collective Kameraphoto and K Gallery which was to become the leading hub for artists working with photography in Portugal. in 2000 time starts to experiment with video making small documentaries.

From 2006 Rui has worked as a cinematographer and filmmaker. In 2008, his debut fiction film Superfície (2008) was awarded a Special Mention by the Jury of the 58th Berlinale/ Berlin Film Festival. The film was made with the support of Gulbenkian Foundation Program for Creation and Creativity. Since 2010 Rui Xavier is an artist in residence in Ateliers Garagem in Lisbon and collaborates with German artist Candida Höfer, resulting in the film and book Silent Spaces.

He also collaborated with Venezuelan artist Javier Tellez for some of his film installations like "La Cueva de Arthaud" for Documenta 13 in Kassel. As a cinematographer, he has had long standing collaboration with avant garde Portuguese director and producer Sandro Aguilar.