👑 BEHIND THE LENS : Juliana Rojas

Juliana Rojas is a celebrated Brazilian director, screenwriter, and editor whose work brilliantly bridges social realism, genre filmmaking, and imaginative alternative narratives. Hailing from Campinas, Brazil, Rojas has established herself as a major force in contemporary international cinema, crafting distinct, atmospheric stories that explore modern anxieties, class dynamics, and the uncanny.

🎨 Visual Style & Core Themes
Magical Realism & Genre Hybridity: Rojas masterfully weaves horror, fantasy, and fable elements into grounded, gritty depictions of contemporary urban life.

Socioeconomic & Gender Dynamics: Her narratives frequently examine labor, isolation, class structures, and untraditional bonds through a deeply empathetic lens.

Atmospheric & Controlled Aesthetic: Utilizing meticulous sound design, moody lighting, and precise pacing, her films create an immersive, lingering sense of psychological tension and wonder.

🌟 Key Works & Milestones
Good Manners (As Boas Maneiras, 2017) – Co-directed with Marco Dutra, this critically acclaimed genre-bending fairy tale-horror film follows a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo hired by a wealthy, mysterious woman to care for her unborn child. Winning the prestigious Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival, it blends social commentary with stylized folklore and deep emotional resonance.

Hard Labor (Trabalhar Cansa, 2011) – Her debut feature film (co-directed with Marco Dutra), which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. It offers a razor-sharp, haunting look at middle-class anxieties and economic pressures in urban Brazil.

Cidade; Campo (2024) – Rojas's acclaimed feature film exploring displacement and migration between urban and rural settings, which won the Best Director award in the Encounters section at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Acclaimed Short Films: Her celebrated short work, including O Duplo (which screened at La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes) and Sinfonia da Necrópole (Necropolis Symphony, 2014), showcases her unique artistic range and mastery of tone.

💬 QueerFilmHub Perspective

“Juliana Rojas redefines the boundaries of genre cinema with poetic imagination and fierce social consciousness. By blending the uncanny with deeply human realities, her work offers a visionary exploration of modern identity, connection, and survival.”