João Manuel Relvas Leopoldo Botelho (born 1949) is a Portuguese film director. He has directed and written the screenplays of numerous films. His films have won several awards. His works have been nominated for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. Botelho was awarded the prestigious Ordem do Infante D.Henrique (Grau Comendador), one of the highest Portuguese honors, by President Jorge Sampaio on 10 June 2005. Early years Botelho was born in Lamego, northern Portugal. He enrolled in mechanical engineering at the University of Coimbra and in cinema at the Lisbon Theatre and Film School (Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema), in 1974, dropping out in both cases. He has worked as a graphic artist. His first cinematographic works were O Alto do Cobre and Um Projecto de Educação Popular, both in 1976. Awards In 1985, he won the Tucano de Ouro for Best Director at the Rio de Janeiro Film Festival for Um Adeus Português. Nominated for the Golden Globes, Portugal in 1999 for Best Director and Best Film for Tráfico OCIC Promotional Award, Forum of New Cinema for: Um Adeus Português in the Berlin International Film Festival, 1986. Audience Award for A Corte do Norte, Coimbra Caminhos do Cinema Português Festival 2009. Special Mention for A Corte do Norte in the Rome Film Fest, in 2008. Several nominations and awards in the Venice Film Festival: Nominated to Golden Lion for O Fatalista in 2005, Quem És Tu? in 2001 and Tráfico in 1998. Won the Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award for Quem És Tu? in 2001 and had a FIPRESCI Prize – Honorable Mention in 1988 for Tempos Difíceis. Special participations in festivals Member of the jury of the 29th São Paulo International Film Festival, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 21 October to 3 November 2005. Member of the jury of the 27th Three Continents Festival, held 22–29 November 2005 in Nantes, France. Honored with a tribute by the Festival Cinéma du Réel in Paris (France) in March 2006. Honored with a tribute by the Festival Internacional du Film de La Rochelle (France) in June and July 1999. Filmography The following films were directed by Botelho. For all except Um Projecto De Educação Popular, O Alto Do Cobre, No Dia Dos Meus Anos, 13 Filmes X 3, As Mãos E As Pedras, and Viagem Ao Coração Do Douro, A Terra Onde Nasci, he also wrote the screenplay. O Alto