Interested in work of hybridity that crosses boundaries of form, medium and language. Fascinated by connection between emotion and the political, as well as activist writing thinking about ideas surrounding aesthetics and politics.
Maria Messias Mendes is a German-Portuguese-Zimbabwean writer, director and visual artist living in London.
Her work has been published in Streetcake Magazine, Tint Magazine and The Cavendish Chronicle. Her 2022 short film ‘A Month’ was longlisted for the ODEON National Youth Film Awards. 2023 short film ‘Leanne’ is a finalist for the Canadian Cinematography Awards and semi-finalist Chicago Filmmakers Awards. Messias Mendes just completed a Masters in Writing for Performance at the University of Cambridge, having previously completed a Bachelor with Honours in English with Creative Writing at Queen Mary University of London. She is a part of the Mercury Theatre Playwrights Programme and an alumni of the Cambridge Junction Writers Lab.
  • Writer (3 Credits)
    Lighter Shades of Blue
    Short
    Leanne2023
    Short
    A Month2022
    Short
  • Producer (2 Credits)
    Lighter Shades of Blue
    Short
    A Month2022
    Short
  • Director (2 Credits)
    Lighter Shades of Blue
    Short
    A Month2022
    Short
  • Art (1 Credit)
    Lighter Shades of Blue
    Short
Semi-Finalist
Leanne
New York International Women Festival
New York
2023
Official Selection
Leanne
Downing Shorts
Cambridge
2023
Official Selection
Leanne
Aventure à Beyoğlu
Istanbul
2023
Semi-Finalist: Best First Time Short Filmmaker
Leanne
Berlin Shorts
Berlin
2023
WINNER: Honourable Mention
Leanne
Global Shorts
Los Angeles
2023
Finalist: Best First Time Director
Leanne
Canadian Cinematography Awards (CaCA)
Toronto
2023
Semi-Finalist: Best Short Film
Leanne
Chicago Filmmakers Awards
Chicago
2023
Official Selection
A Month
Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions
Iver Heath
2023
Official Selection
A Month
Breaking Down Barriers
Moscow
2022
Official Longlist Selection
A Month
National Youth Film Awards
London
2022
Official Selection
A Month
The Paus Premieres Festival
Manchester
2022
Official Selection
A Month
Downing Shorts
Cambridge
2022
College
Queen Mary University of London
B.A. (Hons) English with Creative Writing
20172020
College
University of Cambridge
MSt Writing for Performance
20212023
Current City
London
Interested in work of hybridity that crosses boundaries of form, medium and language. Fascinated by connection between emotion and the political, as well as activist writing thinking about ideas surrounding aesthetics and politics.
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