top of page
 About Ary 

Ary strives to inspire a more inclusive society, leaving an indelible mark on both the art world and the hearts of those who experience his work.

IMG-20220323-WA0014-01.jpeg

​​

Ary Zara is a transgender person who excels in the roles of screenwriter and director. He studied cinema at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon and University of Texas in Austin. 

AN AVOCADO PIT, his debut short film, earned a spot on the shortlist of the 96th Academy Awards® (Oscars®) and Elliot Page has become its Executive Producer. This achievement comes after the short film has garnered 90+ selections and 20+ awards in festivals such as: Clermont-Ferrand, AFI FEST, FIC Guadalajara and Outfest. 

SUN IN SATURN, his first feature was selected for Torino Script Lab and won CNC Prize for his pitch. At Dot.on.the.map it won Best Debut Project and after it was selected for EAVE. Ary will shoot his second short TOKOS in early 2025, developed at Midpoint Institute, pitched at WEMW 2024.

​

Ary’s work has been recognized by the Portuguese Film Academy with the nomination of An Avocado Pit for Best Short film at the prestigious Sophia 2023 awards. Recently, Ary was invited as a jury member for Pitch ME, a program in collaboration with the Portuguese Film Academy and Netflix, he was also a jury member of the international short films section at Indie Lisboa and invited by the European Film Academy in collaboration with the Portugal Film Commission to showcase and share experience with a group of emerging directors at Sunday in the Country.

Studies & Path

Ary Zara has a degree on Cinema and Multimedia Communication by Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, he has been highlighted by his academic short film which was awarded by ZON as “best creative work” and “best short film” and after made an internacional film circle with screens in Italy, Poland, Israel,China and Angola where it was once again awarded.

Ary finished the study of “Writing for Narrative Production”, “Writing for Television" and “Intro to Screenwriting“ at University of Texas in Austin thanks to a FCT scholarship and he was invited as a student to take the “European Course in entrepreneurship for creative industries” a CIAKL project that took place in Lisbon.

Shortly after that he sold his first feature film script to Ukbar and right now he's starting his path as a cinema director.

His first shortfilm is AN AVOCADO PIT, he's currently developing his fisrt feature SUN IN SATURN and pre-producing his second short TOKOS.​

​

Ary has also 11 year experience as videographer, editor and audiovisual project coordinator.

​

 

 

​

Languages

Portuguese - native

​

English - First Certificate British Council (B2 Cambridge)

CONTACT

aryzaraleao@gmail.com

Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Contact

Success! Message received.

bottom of page