Carlos Manga Jr. is a Brazilian director whose storytelling obsession started early — watching films projected on his garage wall by his father. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Chaplin’s classics, The Sound of Music, Citizen Kane — those late-night screenings shaped his visual DNA and ignited a passion for cinematic storytelling.

He is known for blending bold visuals with atmospheric, emotionally charged storytelling. His supernatural series Unsoul, which he directed and shaped artistically, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and is now in its second season. His series If I Close My Eyes Now earned an Emmy nomination, further cementing his reputation for crafting immersive, cinematic worlds.

His career began early — at just 21, he was directing television drama — and his distinctive style evolved through collaborations with Brazil’s most iconic production houses, including Walter Salles’s VideoFilmes and Fernando Meirelles’s O2 Filmes.

Parallel to his fiction work, Carlos built an award-winning career as a commercial director, collecting seven Cannes Lions, along with honors from D&AD and the Clio Awards. His clients include Coca-Cola, Toyota, Honda, VW, and Pepsi. He’s worked with global talents like Leonardo DiCaprio and cinematographers John Mathieson (Gladiator) and Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love).

Named one of the “Directors to Watch,” Carlos’s work bridges atmospheric fiction, high-end commercials, and cinematic scale — always chasing mood, emotion, and unforgettable imagery.