João Pestana
Portugal
João Pestana, a photographer, filmmaker, and actor, is renowned for capturing the essence of Madeira in his photographic work, depicting landscapes, daily life, and local figures. He contributed to photography projects for the press, fashion, advertising, and exhibitions. In cinema and theatre, he was also a filmmaker and served as director of the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias in Funchal.
In July 1963, Pestana held his first professional exhibition. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was a founding member of the Cineclube do Funchal, an association deemed "subversive" by the Estado Novo regime, which included figures such as Herberto Helder (1930–2015) while he lived in Madeira. Through the Cineclube, the first Experimental Theater Group of Funchal was established, where Pestana performed in four plays: O Doido e a Morte by Raul Brandão, A Cantora Careca by Eugène Ionesco, O Urso and Um Pedido de Casamento by Anton Chekhov.
He also participated in several films shot on the island as an actor, assistant director, or production assistant. Pestana worked with cinematographer Jean Rabier (1927–2016) on Ilhas Encantadas by Carlos Vilardebó (b. 1926), filmed in Madeira (1964) for António da Cunha Telles (1935–2022). During this time, he met Amália Rodrigues (the film’s protagonist, 1920–2018) and photographer Augusto Cabrita (1923–1993).
In 1961, Pestana had already collaborated on Ribeira da Saudade by João Mendes. In 2000, his exhibition Textures focused on aspects of Madeira, employing exclusively traditional techniques.
In July 1963, Pestana held his first professional exhibition. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was a founding member of the Cineclube do Funchal, an association deemed "subversive" by the Estado Novo regime, which included figures such as Herberto Helder (1930–2015) while he lived in Madeira. Through the Cineclube, the first Experimental Theater Group of Funchal was established, where Pestana performed in four plays: O Doido e a Morte by Raul Brandão, A Cantora Careca by Eugène Ionesco, O Urso and Um Pedido de Casamento by Anton Chekhov.
He also participated in several films shot on the island as an actor, assistant director, or production assistant. Pestana worked with cinematographer Jean Rabier (1927–2016) on Ilhas Encantadas by Carlos Vilardebó (b. 1926), filmed in Madeira (1964) for António da Cunha Telles (1935–2022). During this time, he met Amália Rodrigues (the film’s protagonist, 1920–2018) and photographer Augusto Cabrita (1923–1993).
In 1961, Pestana had already collaborated on Ribeira da Saudade by João Mendes. In 2000, his exhibition Textures focused on aspects of Madeira, employing exclusively traditional techniques.
