Marta Mateus

Mateus grew up in the Alentejo region of Portugual, specifically in Estremoz.^[3][4][2] She did not study cinema in school and instead studied philosophy, music, photography, and theater.^[3][4]

She began her directing career with the 2017 short film Farpões Baldios [Barbs, Wastelands]. In 2018, she joined the Casa de Velázquez, Académie de France à Madrid. In 2018 she also founded the production company Clarão Companhia.^[3]

This led to her directing and producing her first feature length film Fogo do Vento (Fire of Wind) released in 2024.^[5] The film took four years to complete and was set in the Alentejo region where Mateus grew up.^[4][3] It premiered in the main competition at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in 2024.^[4]