Claúdia Varejão is a Portuguese filmmaker and director. She is best known for her films As Boas Maneiras (2017), O Ornitólogo (2016) and A Idade da Lã (2014).
Varejão was born in Oporto, Portugal in 1981. She studied at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema in Lisbon, where she graduated in 2004. After completing her studies, she worked as a documentary film editor and director for the Portuguese National Television (RTP). She also worked as an assistant director on several feature films, including The Consul of Bordeaux (2015) and The Works and Days of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin (2012).
In 2014, Varejão released her debut feature film, A Idade da Lã. The film tells the story of a group of elderly women in a small village in Portugal who are struggling to keep their traditional way of life. The film was well-received, and won several awards, including the Best Film award at the Portuguese Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
In 2016, Varejão released her second feature film, O Ornitólogo. The film follows the journey of an ornithologist who travels to a remote area of Portugal in search of a rare species of bird. The film was a critical success, and was nominated for numerous awards, including the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and the Grand Prix at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
In 2017, Varejão released her third feature film, As Boas Maneiras. The film follows the story of a woman who is hired to help deliver a baby in a supernatural world. The film was a commercial success and was nominated for several awards, including the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Varejão's films have been praised for their strong female characters and their exploration of themes of folklore and superstition. Her work has earned her recognition as one of the leading figures of Portuguese cinema, and she is widely considered to be one of the most important filmmakers of her generation.
