logline

World renowned performer Cesária Évora in a new and intimate documentary. With previously unseen footage and insights into the singer's life, the film follows the struggles and success of the Barefoot Diva. Her voice took her from poverty to stardom but her only dream was to be free.

With the financial support of ICA (Portuguese Film Institute)

director statement

"The importance of making a film about such an incredible African woman hit me ten years ago on the day after Cesária’s funeral. I stood outside my house and saw the sadness in people's eyes. At that moment, I started thinking: how many films are there about black women, over 50, living in Africa, who became an international icon and were able to change their country? And how did a poor, black woman, old and overweight, manage to succeed in an industry obsessed with beauty and youth? As a journalist, for 20 years I’ve been telling stories of people, especially women, many from Africa. Cesária is the perfect narrative - a woman who challenged fate and broke all prejudices.”

DIRECTOR

ana sofia fonseca

She has more than 20 years of storytelling experience. She started her career in journalism, then she took up her old love for documentary filmmaking. Her work has been distinguished with several awards in Portugal, such as Gazeta Prize (the most prestigious journalism award), AMI Journalism Against Indifference and Human Rights and Integration Journalism Prize by UNESCO. Her work was also nominated for the official selection of DOC Miami Film Festival, Monte-Carlo Festival, EDOC Encuentros del Otro Cine and it won the Jury Grand Prix at Most International Wine Film Festival. She directed the documentaries On Borrowed Time and A Whole Life of September.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

vasco viana

Graduated in Cinema, his work gained notoriety with Arena, a fiction short film winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His work was also recognized with the Golden Bear at the Berlinale Film Festival and he won the prize for best photography at the International Cinematographers’; Film Festival Manaki Brothers. In 2019 he premiered his first documentary as a director. “Lisbon Beat” received the IndieMusic award at IndieLisboa International Film Festival and was the opening film at Festival dei Popoli in Florence.

EDITING

claúdia rita oliveira

She was nominated for “Best Editing” in 2011, by the Brasilian Film Academy, with the documentary “José and Pilar”. She was one of the editors of “The Nothing Factory”, awarded with FIPRESCI critics award at Quinzaine des Réalisateurs - Cannes. With this film, she was also nominated for Best Editing at México FÉNIX Awards 2017, at EDA (Asociación Argentina de Editores Audiovisuales) and at Festival Mar Del Plata. She directed two short films and the feature “Cruzeiro Seixas – The Letters of King Artur”, awarded with the public prize at Film Festival DocLisboa.

SOUND

david medina

ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

paulo cepa

carlos ferreira

PRODUCTION / RESEARCH

ana sofia fonseca

joana lourenço

rosa teixeira da silva

(in cabo verde with)

hélder lopes (doca)

mara costa

EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION

ana sofia fonseca

PRODUCERS

ana sofia fonseca

irina calado

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS

agostinho ribeiro

ricardo freitas