Mariana Duarte

I am a filmmaker, editor and doctoral researcher based in Edinburgh. I specialise in documentary while also working across fiction and hybrid forms. Alongside directing my own projects, I collaborate with filmmakers through script and edit consultancy, drawing on my experience as an editor in high-end television and independent film. My work also extends into film culture, programming and research, and I occasionally teach and collaborate with festivals and cultural organisations.

Film directing & editing

I work across fiction, documentary and hybrid forms, often exploring questions of migration, landscape and perception. My films are shaped by an interest in visual storytelling and in experimenting with how images can evoke memory, place and movement.

I am a Berlinale Talents alumna, and my films have screened internationally at festivals including Edinburgh, Aspen Shortsfest, Curta Kinoforum, Tiradentes and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. My latest short film, Headland (2024), received the Best Mini-Doc Award at the 2025 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

Before focusing on independent filmmaking, I spent over a decade working as an editor on high-end television productions at Brazil’s TV Globo, as well as on projects for clients including Discovery Channel and the International Red Cross. This experience gave me a strong foundation in storytelling and post-production.

Curation & Programming

Alongside my filmmaking practice, I am increasingly involved in film curation and programming. I am currently part of the preselection team for Encounters Film Festival and have recently curated and advised for DocScreen, the Scottish Documentary Institute’s weekly programme at Edinburgh Filmhouse. I have also contributed to the selection process for the BAFTA Student Awards.

Through programming, I am interested in creating thoughtful contexts for films to be experienced and discussed, and in supporting emerging filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Script & Edit Consultancy

I also collaborate with filmmakers as a script and edit consultant, particularly on short films. Drawing on my experience as an editor and director, I support projects at different stages of development, from shaping scripts and narrative structure to offering feedback during the editing process.

My approach focuses on helping filmmakers clarify the core ideas of their work while strengthening structure, rhythm and emotional impact.

Research & Teaching

I am currently completing a PhD by Practice in Film Directing at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. My article A Camera in the Water: Reframing the Migrant Image in Documentary Film was published in Screen. I teach seminars and occasionally contribute as a guest lecturer in Contemporary Cinema at the ECA, where I also supervise dissertations in Design & Screen Cultures.

I am always interested in collaborating with filmmakers, festivals and cultural organisations. If you would like to discuss a project, film programme or consultancy, feel free to get in touch!