March 13 - Kátia Lund

Happy 54th Birthday, Kátia Lund! Born today in 1966, this Brazilian screenwriter and film director's most notable work was as co-director of the 2002 Brazilian crime/drama coming-of-age film 'Cidade de Deus' ('City of God'). 

Lund had also co-directed the film alongside Brazilian film director, producer and screenwriter Fernando Meirelles. 

  

Set in the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, 'City of God' follows two young men who choose different paths. Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood.  

  

However, José "Zé" Pequeno (Leandro Firmino da Hora) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Seu Jorge). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods. 

  

Based off of the eponymous 1997 semi-autobiographical crime fiction novel by Brazilian author Paulo Lins, 'City of God' was Brazil's entry for the 75th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film in late March 2003. However, it did not end up being nominated as one of the five finalists. 

  

The following year, 'City of God' received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for four Oscars at the 76th Academy Awards in late February 2004. 

This included Best Film Editing (Daniel Rezende), Best Cinematography (César Charlone), Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Bráulio Mantovani) and Best Director (Meirelles). 

  

Lund has been active from 1998–present. 

  

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