Luís Miguel Cintra

Biography

Luís Miguel Cintra, a distinguished figure in the Portuguese theatrical landscape, was born in Madrid in 1949. His theatrical journey commenced in 1968 with the Faculty of Letters Theater Group while he pursued Romance Philology at the University of Lisbon. He honed his craft by studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1970 to 1972, thanks to a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Upon returning to Portugal, he co-founded the Teatro da Cornucópia Company in 1973 with Jorge Silva Melo, where he directed and often performed in works by renowned playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Shakespeare, Brecht, and Beckett.

In addition to his directing and acting, Cintra contributed to the theater scene as a critic for O Tempo e o Modo and led the Seara Nova Theater Collection and the Theater Collection from Estampa and Ulmeiro publishing houses, respectively. His literary pursuits included complete readings of Almeida Garrett's *Viagens na Minha Terra* and Camilo Castelo Branco's *Amor de Perdição*, along with poetry by greats like Pessoa and Sophia de Mello Breyner.

In 1987, he made his mark in opera direction with *L'Enfant et les Sortilèges* and *Dido and Aeneas* at the Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos. Cintra's international presence grew, showcasing his work at festivals like the Venice Biennale and the Avignon Festival. His cinematic career began with a short film by João César Monteiro, leading to roles in over 70 films with notable directors.

His accolades include multiple Bordalo da Casa da Imprensa Awards, Globos de Ouro, the Coimbra University Award, and the Pessoa Prize. The upcoming LEFFEST will honor Cintra’s contributions to film and theater through a curated selection of his works and engaging discussions with audiences and fellow actors.