Carlos Ruiz Carmona
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Spanish/Portuguese filmmaker who has worked as producer and director in England and Portugal since 1995. He has produced several shorts and documentaries for television over the years. He currently lives in Porto (Portugal) where he set up his own production company, Fronteira Filmes, mostly dedicated to the production of documentaries.
In 1999 Carlos Ruiz directed and produced his first feature-length film: To anyone who can hear me. This film was premiered at the International Film Festival of Taormina, Italy and participated in festivals such as Edinburgh, Madrid, Sienna, Croatia, Roma, and Figueira da Foz. In 1999 To anyone who can hear me won two major awards at the International Film Festival of Figueira da Foz, Portugal: Grand Prix for best Feature Fiction Film and International Journalists Jury Prize and an Honorable Mention at the International Film Festival of Famalicâo, Portugal. In 2001 Carlos Ruiz produced Shadows, which was entered in competitions at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam (Netherlands) in January 2002. Shadows had its debut at Columbia Tri-Star Preview Theatre in London, England, 2001.
In 2004 Carlos Ruiz directs and produces his second feature film: Portrait, an award wining feature documentary which has participated in many International Film Festivals such as Taiwan, Ankara, Rome, Madrid, Mexico, Cadiz, Helsinski, DocLisboa and Tui-PlayDoc. In 2005 Portrait won Best Spanish Feature Film at the International Documentary Film Festival of Madrid, Spain. In the same year the film was awarded an Honorable Distinction at the International Documentary Film Festival of Tui, Pontevedra, Spain. In 2009 and 2010 Portrait was selected and distributed internationally by Miguel Cervantes' Institute. The program included multiple long-term exhibitions in Mexico, Moscow, Shanghai, Stockholm, Beijing, Rome and Casablanca. In 2013 was selected and exhibited worldwide by Eurochannel in Europe, Asia and America.
In 2017, Carlos completed his latest documentary film CRU: an observational documentary produced in Oporto over a period of almost 10 years. The project received support from the ICA in 2016. The film aims to discuss and question the values of modern society and human nature through a contemporary nonlinear psychological portrait of intimate life stories. Its world premiere took place in November 2017 in the International Competition of one of the biggest European Documentary Film Festivals - Dok Leipzig. In April 2018 he made his debut in Switzerland at the International Festival of Visions du Reel and in July 2018 had an Honorable Mention in the International Competition at the International Festival of Avanca. July, 2018. Also in 2018 he directed and produced a short environmental documentary entitled Alentejo, late afternoon, a cinematographic homage to the light, colors and textures of Alentejo's landscapes in Portugal. This short film was exhibited in several international film festivals such as the International Film Festival- To Save and Preserve or the International Nature Film Festival in Godollo. In 2021, he completed his latest documentary, Dividual, a social documentary filmed in Portugal over several years. Dividual was shot in SD (standard definition) with a mini DV video camera and a microphone by the director. This approach allowed the filmmaker an intimate approach to events and characters in order to capture the realism of each event. The director recorded daily activities in public and private institutions that mainly focus on short-term support for needy families or marginalized sectors of society. This film was selected at various film festivals, such as Boden, Stockholm, Lulea, or Lerapetra. In 2024 he completed his second feature-length fiction film, The Waning Sky, a lyrical portrayal of the enigmatic nature of love and the enduring pain of living with the consequences of our actions. This film is due to be premiere in 2024. Also in 2024, Carlos began the production of a new feature documentary film, Magma, a project supported by ICA in Portugal. "Magma" delves into the poignant journey of group of children abandoned and institutionalized, awaiting adoption. Through intimate narratives and cinematic imagery, it chronicles their varied experiences-some finding homes, others not; some experiencing joy, others not. The film unveils the raw, unsentimental truths of their lives, offering a universal reflection on societal injustices.
In 1999 Carlos Ruiz directed and produced his first feature-length film: To anyone who can hear me. This film was premiered at the International Film Festival of Taormina, Italy and participated in festivals such as Edinburgh, Madrid, Sienna, Croatia, Roma, and Figueira da Foz. In 1999 To anyone who can hear me won two major awards at the International Film Festival of Figueira da Foz, Portugal: Grand Prix for best Feature Fiction Film and International Journalists Jury Prize and an Honorable Mention at the International Film Festival of Famalicâo, Portugal. In 2001 Carlos Ruiz produced Shadows, which was entered in competitions at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam (Netherlands) in January 2002. Shadows had its debut at Columbia Tri-Star Preview Theatre in London, England, 2001.
In 2004 Carlos Ruiz directs and produces his second feature film: Portrait, an award wining feature documentary which has participated in many International Film Festivals such as Taiwan, Ankara, Rome, Madrid, Mexico, Cadiz, Helsinski, DocLisboa and Tui-PlayDoc. In 2005 Portrait won Best Spanish Feature Film at the International Documentary Film Festival of Madrid, Spain. In the same year the film was awarded an Honorable Distinction at the International Documentary Film Festival of Tui, Pontevedra, Spain. In 2009 and 2010 Portrait was selected and distributed internationally by Miguel Cervantes' Institute. The program included multiple long-term exhibitions in Mexico, Moscow, Shanghai, Stockholm, Beijing, Rome and Casablanca. In 2013 was selected and exhibited worldwide by Eurochannel in Europe, Asia and America.
In 2017, Carlos completed his latest documentary film CRU: an observational documentary produced in Oporto over a period of almost 10 years. The project received support from the ICA in 2016. The film aims to discuss and question the values of modern society and human nature through a contemporary nonlinear psychological portrait of intimate life stories. Its world premiere took place in November 2017 in the International Competition of one of the biggest European Documentary Film Festivals - Dok Leipzig. In April 2018 he made his debut in Switzerland at the International Festival of Visions du Reel and in July 2018 had an Honorable Mention in the International Competition at the International Festival of Avanca. July, 2018. Also in 2018 he directed and produced a short environmental documentary entitled Alentejo, late afternoon, a cinematographic homage to the light, colors and textures of Alentejo's landscapes in Portugal. This short film was exhibited in several international film festivals such as the International Film Festival- To Save and Preserve or the International Nature Film Festival in Godollo. In 2021, he completed his latest documentary, Dividual, a social documentary filmed in Portugal over several years. Dividual was shot in SD (standard definition) with a mini DV video camera and a microphone by the director. This approach allowed the filmmaker an intimate approach to events and characters in order to capture the realism of each event. The director recorded daily activities in public and private institutions that mainly focus on short-term support for needy families or marginalized sectors of society. This film was selected at various film festivals, such as Boden, Stockholm, Lulea, or Lerapetra. In 2024 he completed his second feature-length fiction film, The Waning Sky, a lyrical portrayal of the enigmatic nature of love and the enduring pain of living with the consequences of our actions. This film is due to be premiere in 2024. Also in 2024, Carlos began the production of a new feature documentary film, Magma, a project supported by ICA in Portugal. "Magma" delves into the poignant journey of group of children abandoned and institutionalized, awaiting adoption. Through intimate narratives and cinematic imagery, it chronicles their varied experiences-some finding homes, others not; some experiencing joy, others not. The film unveils the raw, unsentimental truths of their lives, offering a universal reflection on societal injustices.
