Born on November 9, 1955, in São Paulo, Brazil, he emerged as a prominent film director and producer. Initially studying architecture, his passion for storytelling led him to co-found the influential production company, O2 Filmes. Gaining international acclaim with the gritty urban drama "City of God" (2002), his work is noted for its dynamic visual style and social commentary. He continued to garner critical praise with films like "The Constant Gardener" (2005) and contributed to high-profile projects, including the 2016 Rio Olympics opening ceremony.