Selton Mello
Selton Figueiredo Mello is a Brazilian actor and filmmaker. Acting since childhood on television shows, Mello gained national popularity in Brazil for his comedic performances in A Dog's Will and Lisbela and the Prisoner.
In 2008, Mello made his directorial debut with December, followed by The Clown, which was selected as Brazil's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 85th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated.
In 2024, Mello gained international recognition for his portrayal of Rubens Paiva in Walter Salles' Academy Award-winning film I'm Still Here.
Life and career
Early life
Selton Mello was born in Passos, Minas Gerais, son of housewife Selva and banker Dalton Melo. He and his family have Portuguese and Italian ancestry. His younger brother Danton Mello is also an actor.After Mello was born, his parents moved to São Paulo, where he lived until the age of 11. In São Paulo, he was selected to star on a soap opera at TV Globo, and had to move with his entire family to Rio de Janeiro.
2000s
He played André in the Brazilian film To the Left of the Father, directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho and based on the novel of the same name by Raduan Nassar.He has also played João da Ega in Os Maias, also directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho, based on the eponymous novel by Eça de Queiroz.
Beyond that, Selton Mello played roles in the movies, Lisbela and the Prisoner ; Auto da Compadecida, by Guel Arraes; Drained, by Heitor Dhalia; and My Name Ain't Johnny, by Mauro Lima and Four Days in September by Bruno Barreto.
Selton Mello's acting skills have been awarded several times in national and international festivals such as the Havana Film Festival, Brasília International Film Festival, Lleida Latin-American Film Festival and the Lima Latin American Film Festival in which he was awarded for his performance in To the Left of the Father. He also won the Cinema Brazil Grand Prize for Lisbela and the Prisoner and the best actor award for My Name Ain't Johnny granted by both the Cinema Brazil Grand Prize and the Miami International Film Festival; and the best actor award for Drained, granted by the Rio International Film Festival, Punta Del Este International Film Festival and by the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Selton is also a screenwriter, editor, and musician. After he developed a solid career as an actor, he began to work on the other side of the camera as a director. He began directing video clips, documentaries, and TV shows. His debut in film directing was in 2006 with the short film entitled When the Time Falls, selected for competitive screenings at the Gramado Film Fest, Rio International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival and the Guadalajara Film Festival.
The award-winning movie December, acclaimed by critics in Brasil and worldwide, marked his debut as a director and has amassed more than 20 awards at various festivals, such as the Paulínia Film Festival, Goiania and Curitiba Film Festivals in Brazil.
He also received the Special Jury Prize in Imola/Italy, three awards at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival, including the Best Director and the Best Screenplay award at the 7th Cine Cero Latitud Festival, Best Cinematography at the Lima Latin American Film Festival, and in the XI Ibero-American Film Festival of Santa Cruz.
2010s
In 2011, he acted and co-directed the TV Series The Invisible Woman which won the International Emmy Award in 2012 for Best TV Comedy of the Year.In 2012, he directed Sessão de Terapia, the Brazilian version of the much celebrated TV series In Treatment, written by Hagai Levi
His second film feature, The Clown, launched in October 2011, was selected as the Brazilian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. This film hit the milestone of 1.5 million viewers, and was received with great enthusiasm by critics, receiving over 40 national and international awards, including Best Director in Paulínia, APCA and the 38th SESC Film Fest - where it was also awarded as best film. He was further enshrined in the Cinema Brazil Grand Prize, having won 12 categories, - a record that assured the film a place in the history of the most successful Brazilian films.
Filmography
As actor
As Filmmaker
Television
- Sinhá Moça - Soap Opera
- Pedra sobre Pedra - Soap Opera
- Olho no Olho - Soap Opera
- Tropicaliente - Soap Opera
- A Próxima Vítima - Soap Opera
- A Indomada - Soap Opera
- O Auto da Compadecida - Miniseries
- Força de um Desejo - Soap Opera
- Os Maias - Miniseries
- Caramuru - A Invenção do Brasil - Miniseries
- Os Aspones - Comedy Series
- O Sistema - Comedy Series
- A Cura - Miniseries
- A Mulher Invisível - Comedy Series
- Sessão de Terapia - Series; Also writer and director
- Ligações Perigosas - Miniseries
- Treze Dias Longe do Sol - Miniseries
- O Mecanismo - Series
- Nos Tempos do Imperador - Soap Opera
Awards
- The Clown
Best Director - Prêmio APCA
Best Actor - Prêmio QUEM
Best Director - Prêmio Melhores do Ano SESC SP
Best Director - Festival de Cinema da Lapa
Best Picture Montage - Prêmio ABC
Best Director - Prêmio Contigo de Cinema Nacional
Best Actor - Prêmio Contigo
Best Actor - BRAFFTV - Brazilian Film & TV Festival of Toronto
Best Actor - Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2012
Best Director - Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2012
Best Screenplay, Original - Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2012
Best Editing - Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2012
Audience Award - Huelva Latin American Film Festival 2012
- Jean Charles
- Feliz Natal
Best director - Goiania Film Festival 2008
Best director - 2nd Brazilian Film Festival - Los Angeles, EUA 2009
- Meu Nome Nao é Johnny
Best actor - Prêmio Vivo de Cinema Brasileiro 2009
Best Actor - Cinema Brazil Grand Prize 2009
Best actor - 12th Brazilian Film Festival of Miami 2008
Best actor - Prêmio Contigo de Cinema 2008
Best actor - Prêmio Qualidade Brasil 2008
Best actor - Toronto Brazilian Film Festival 2008
Best actor - Quem magazine award 2008
- O Cheiro do Ralo
Best actor - Rio Film Festival 2006
Best actor - Punta Del Leste International Film Festival
Best actor - Guadalajara, Mexico XXII Film Festival
Best actor - Sesc-Sated award, Minas Gerais
Best actor - Film Festival - Quito, Ecuador
- O Coronel e o Lobisomem
- Lisbela e o Prisioneiro
- Lavoura Arcaica
Best Actor - Lleida Latin-American Film Festival 2002
Best Actor - Lima Latin American Film Festival 2002
Best Actor - Havana Film Festival 2001
Best Actor - Brazilia Festival of Brazilian Cinema 2001
- Árido Movie
Best supporting actor: Qualidade Brasil Award
Best supporting actor: Cineport Film Festival
- Os Maias
- A indomada