Leonardo Pirondi

Leonardo Pirondi
Born
São Paulo, Brazil
EducationCalifornia Institute of the Arts (BFA, MFA)
OccupationFilm Director
Websitewww.leonardopirondi.com

Leonardo Pirondi is a Brazilian film director from São Paulo. Pirondi's work explores the intersection between fiction and non-fiction filmmaking using non-conventional structures of documentary, experimental, and narrative modes.[1] In his films he explores contemporary sociopolitical issues and collective anxieties as a lens to look into history, imagination, myth, and technology.[2][3]

Education

Leonardo Pirondi studied filmmaking at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), in an analog and 16 mm focussed film program with an avant-garde/experimental film tradition, located in Valencia, California.[4] He holds both B.F.A and M.F.A degrees from the Film/Video program.[5]

Career

His films have been presented at the Toronto International Film Festival,[6] International Film Festival Rotterdam,[7][8] New York Film Festival (Currents),[9][10] Vienna International Film Festival,[11] Mar del Plata International Film Festival,[12] BFI London Film Festival,[13] Festival du nouveau cinéma, Slamdance,[14] Melbourne International Film Festival,[15] Edinburgh International Film Festival, Centre de Cultura Contemporànea de Barcelona,[16] and REDCAT.[17]

Some of his films exist in the UCLA Film and Television Archive, The Film-Makers' Cooperative in New York,[18] and were deposited at the Cinematheque of the Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro[19] after the 4th edition of the 1666 Festival Internacional de Cinema 16mm.[20] He has had solo and retrospective showings of his films at the Spectacle Theater in New York City,[21][22] and Galeria Mola in Portugal.[23][24] He took part in the 2023 Sundance Ignite X Adobe Fellowship.[25]

Pirondi's first co-authored project, the 2023 short film titled When We Encounter the World, was co-directed with Zazie Ray-Trapido and it premiered at the 32nd Curtas Vila do Conde[26] followed by the North American Premiere at the 61st New York Film Festival,[27][28] the Austrian Premiere at the 61st Viennale,[29] and selected to additional exhibitions at 15th Crossroads by the San Francisco Cinematheque,[30] San Diego Underground Film Festival. The film was also shown alongside an interactive exhibition at Galeria Mola in Portugal.[31]

Pirondi's 2024 short film, Potenciais à Deriva [Adrift Potentials],[32] premiered at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam as part of the Tiger Short Competition,[33] with a North American premiere at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival (Wavelengths)[34][35] and selected to the 62nd Viennale,[36] 53rd Festival du nouveau cinéma,[37] 49th Mar del Plata International Film Festival,[38] 33rd Curtas Vila do Conde, and 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival.[39] In 2025 the film was selected to the Hong Kong International Film Festival,[40] Prismatic Ground[41] in New York City, and the Umbrales de Vanguardias Latinoamericanas competition at FICUNAM (Festival Internacional de Cine de UNAM).[42][43]

Pirondi was selected for the fourth edition of the Locarno Residency, which took place during the 78th Locarno Film Festival. He participated with a feature film project in development titled AMERIKA'ATINGA.[44][45] He received the Paradiso Grant, a support from the Brazilian philanthropic initiative named Projeto Paradiso by the Olga Rabinovich Institute, to attend the Locarno Residency and he also became part of the Paradiso Talent Network.[46][47]

In 2025, he was named one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film[48] and he was awarded a MacDowell Fellowship for the Fall '25 Winter '26 cycle.[49][5]

Pirondi's 2026 short films, Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira [Memoirs Found in a Bathtub] and Suíte dos Viajantes [Travelers' Suite], premiered at the International Selections at the 72nd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen[50] and the 39th European Media Art Festival,[51][52] respectively.

In 2026, his debut feature Fractais Tropicais [Tropical Fractals], starring Ivo Müller and Valentina Rosset, premiered in the National Competition at the 23rd IndieLisboa International Film Festival.[53] Followed by screenings at film festivals and art institutions such as the 33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival[54] and the RECAT Theater.[55]

Filmography

Year Original title English title Length Country Notes Ref.
2026 Fractais Tropicais Tropical Fractals 72 minutes Portugal Brazil Debut feature film [53]
Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira Memoirs Found in a Bathtub 4 minutes Brazil Portugal Short film [50]
Suíte dos Viajantes Travelers' Suite 7 minutes [52]
2024 Potenciais à Deriva Adrift Potentials 11 minutes Brazil USA [32][56]
2023 Seja Bem-Vindo ao Lar Welcome Home 4 minutes USA
When We Encounter The World 11 minutes Portugal USA Short film

Co-directed with Zazie Ray-Trapido
2022 Effulgent Gleam 7 minutes Brazil USA Short film
Visão do Paraíso Vision of Paradise 16 minutes Brazil UK USA
2021 In Search of Mount Analogue 4 minutes Brazil USA
If a Tree Falls in a Forest 15 minutes
2020 Benning's Dream 2 minutes USA Animated short film starring James Benning
Earth had issues Loading... 9 minutes Brazil USA Short film
2019 This is Mine, This is Yours 3 minutes Brazil USA

Awards and nominations

Year Result Event Category/Award Work Ref.
2026 Nominated 33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival Narrative Features Fractais Tropicais [57]
23rd IndieLisboa International Film Festival National Competition [58]
72nd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen International Competition Memórias Encontradas Numa Banheira [50]
34th Curtas Vila do Conde Experimental Competition Suíte dos Viajantes [59]
39th European Media Art Festival International Selection [51]
2025 Nominated 15th FICUNAM (Festival Internacional de Cine de UNAM) Competencia Umbrales de Vanguardias Latinoamericanas Potenciais à Deriva [42]
2024 Nominated 39th Mar del Plata Film Festival Competencia Estados Alterados [60]
53rd Festival du nouveau cinéma Les nouveaux alchimistes Competition [37]
77th Edinburgh International Film Festival Experimental Shorts [61][62]
32nd Curtas Vila do Conde Experimental Competition [63]
37th European Media Art Festival International Competition Seja Bem-Vindo ao Lar [64]
53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Short Award Competition Potenciais à Deriva [65]
30th Slamdance Film Festival Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize Visão do Paraíso [66]
2023 Nominated 31st Curtas Vila do Conde Experimental Competition When We Encounter The World [67]
Won 26th Brooklyn Film Festival Best Experimental Award Visão do Paraíso [68]
Nominated 20th Vienna Shorts FIDO Competition [69]
26th Guanajuato International Film Festival International Documentary [70]
23rd DokuFest International Short DOX [71]

References

  1. ↑ Gamba, Pablo (2023-06-04). "Conversación con Leonardo Pirondi" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  2. ↑ "Vision of Paradise". Talking Shorts. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  3. ↑ "Brazil's Leonardo Pirondi Brings Climate Change Issues To The Big Screen With New Film". 29 January 2021. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  4. ↑ "CalArts Filmmakers Screen at Festivals Across North America and Europe - 24700". 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  5. 1 2 "Leonardo Pirondi - MacDowell Fellow in Film/Video Arts". MacDowell. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  6. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2024-08-08). "TIFF Wavelengths Program Set With Films From Miguel Gomes, Roberto Minervini, Wang Bing & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  7. ↑ "Visão do Paraíso | IFFR". iffr.com. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  8. ↑ "Leonardo Pirondi". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  9. ↑ Guy, Zoe (2023-08-23). "The New York Film Festival 2023 Lineup Trickles In". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  10. ↑ Coldiron, Phil (2023-09-29). "AVANT HORIZON". Artforum. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  11. ↑ "Es gibt viel zu entdecken in den Kurzfilmprogrammen der Viennale". Der Standard (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  12. ↑ Festival, Mar del Plata International Film. "39th Mar del Plata International Film Festival". www.mardelplatafilmfest.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  13. ↑ "ICA | Shorts Programme: Thinking Around and Outside". www.ica.art. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  14. ↑ "Slamdance 2024 Announces Its Full Lineup". Filmmaker Magazine. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  15. ↑ "Documentary Shorts". MIFF 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  16. ↑ "Xcèntric - Leonardo Pirondi". Xcèntric. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  17. ↑ "CalArts REDCAT showcase Archive".
  18. ↑ "Leonardo Pirondi". The Film-Makers' Cooperative. 2019. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  19. ↑ "1666". Mundo em Foco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  20. ↑ "Mostra Contemporanea 22". Mundo em Foco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  21. ↑ "EARTH/GRAIN/PIXEL: SHORTS BY LEONARDO PIRONDI – Spectacle Theater". 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  22. ↑ "A NIGHT WITH LEONARDO PIRONDI AND ZAZIE RAY-TRAPIDO – Spectacle Theater". 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  23. ↑ ""When We Encounter The World" traz uma experiência cinematográfica imersiva à Galeria Mola, em Portugal" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  24. ↑ "Exposição Fronteiras traz a arte como reflexão sobre a busca por sentidos". Agência Incomparáveis (in European Portuguese). 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  25. ↑ Flam, Charna (2023-06-26). "Sundance Institute Announces Ignite and Adobe Fellows (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  26. ↑ "Festival Scope". pro.festivalscope.com. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  27. ↑ Keogan, Natalia (2023-08-23). "Film at Lincoln Center Reveals Currents Lineup for 2023 New York Film Festival - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  28. ↑ "The Night Visitors". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  29. ↑ "When We Encounter the World | Viennale". www.viennale.at. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  30. ↑ "CROSSROADS 2024 – program 7 – SFCinematheque". Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  31. ↑ Moraes, Rita (1970-01-01). "When We Encounter The World" traz uma experiência cinematográfica imersiva à Galeria Mola, em Portugal". Conexão In (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  32. 1 2 Fields, Alex (2024-01-30). "Potenciais à deriva — Leonardo Pirondi [IFFR '24 Review]". In Review Online. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  33. ↑ Cinevitor (2023-12-18). "Festival de Roterdã 2024: filmes brasileiros são selecionados". CINEVITOR (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  34. ↑ "For an Ad Hoc Cinema: TIFF Wavelengths 2024". MUBI. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  35. ↑ Wang, Winnie (2024-09-20). "TIFF Wavelengths' "Ride the Wave" Opens a Sea of Possibilities". POV Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  36. ↑ "Potenciais à deriva | Viennale". www.viennale.at. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  37. 1 2 "Festival du nouveau cinéma | Short film program unveiled- FNC53". nouveaucinema.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  38. ↑ "Noticias: Festival de Mar del Plata 2024: Anunciaron toda la programación - Otros Cines". www.otroscines.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  39. ↑ Ford, Lily (2024-07-10). "Edinburgh Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup Led by Saoirse Ronan's 'The Outrun'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  40. ↑ Lo, Zabrina. "Editor's picks: Best movies to see at Hong Kong International Film Festival 2025". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  41. ↑ "Prismatic Ground 2025". Screen Slate. 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  42. 1 2 "Competencia Umbrales de Vanguardias Latinoamericanas – FICUNAM" (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  43. ↑ Jiménez, Luis Enrique (2025-05-07). "Todo lo que debes saber del FICUNAM 15". CineMedios (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  44. ↑ "Leonardo Pirondi - Locarno Film Festival". July 28, 2025.
  45. ↑ "AMERIKA'ATINGA | development". LEONARDO PIRONDI. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  46. ↑ Luanna (2025-07-29). "Leonardo Pirondi". Projeto Paradiso (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  47. ↑ "Projeto Paradiso". Projeto Paradiso (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  48. ↑ Rizov, Vadim (2025-09-17). "Leonardo Pirondi". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  49. ↑ "MacDowell Awards 149 Fall Winter Fellowships to Artists". MacDowell. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  50. 1 2 3 gGmbH, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen. "Competitions". www.kurzfilmtage.de. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  51. 1 2 "EMAF – Osnabrück". www.emaf.de. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  52. 1 2 "Suíte dos Viajantes". LEONARDO PIRONDI. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  53. 1 2 "Coming of age does not happen overnight: IndieLisboa turns 23 – Senses of Cinema". 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  54. ↑ "33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival". cuff33.eventive.org. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
  55. ↑ "Tropical Fractals (Fractais Tropicais) | REDCAT". www.redcat.org. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
  56. ↑ Gamba, Pablo (2024-02-11). "Potenciais à deriva" (in Spanish). Los Experimentos Blog de Cine. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  57. ↑ Magazine, Screen (2026-08-18). "Chicago Underground Film Festival Announces Lineup for 33rd Edition". Screen Magazine. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
  58. ↑ "Tropical Fractals — IndieLisboa". 2026-04-07. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  59. ↑ "2026 Official Selection: Experimental Competition". www.festival.curtas.pt. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  60. ↑ Plata, Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del. "39º Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata". www.mardelplatafilmfest.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  61. ↑ Ntim, Zac (2024-07-10). "Edinburgh Film Festival Sets 2024 Competition Lineups And Events Including Gaspar Noé Masterclass". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  62. ↑ Ford, Lily (2024-07-10). "Edinburgh Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup Led by Saoirse Ronan's 'The Outrun'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  63. ↑ "Programa - [EXP] Competição Experimental 3". festival.curtas.pt. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  64. ↑ "Timetable / EMAF – European Media Art Festival". www.emaf.de. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  65. ↑ "Tiger Short Competition | IFFR". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  66. ↑ "Announcing the Official Lineup for Slamdance 2024". Slamdance Film Festival. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  67. ↑ "When We Encounter The World". Curtas Vila do Conde. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  68. ↑ "Jury Statements '23 @ Brooklyn Film Festival". Brooklyn Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  69. ↑ "2019| Vienna Shorts Film Festival". Vienna Shorts Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  70. ↑ "GIFF 2023 | Programa". Guanajuato International Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  71. ↑ "Films". Dokufest. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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