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Maria d'Ovenal Films

We film so there is somewhere to come back to.

Families, weddings and brands. From Coimbra, Portugal, to wherever the story is.

A voice

Aunt Maria wipes away tears, sitting next to Uncle Manel on the porch of their house.

“It’s what life leaves behind.”

Aunt Maria and Uncle Manel, years after watching the first film Pedro made for them.

Cousin Diogo, in the film made for his grandparents.

It all began with a film for two grandparents.

Pedro was about fourteen. He filmed his cousin Diogo in secret, in their grandparents’ yard, among tractors and motorbikes. It took him almost a year to edit.

When they watched it, they cried from the very first minute. They still talk about it today.

How it all began

What we film

A few projects at a time. Each one seen through to the end.

Half of an elderly woman’s face, lit by a low light, emerging from the dark.

She always insisted on being served last.

She was born in Avenal, and in the village she married into they called her Maria do Avenal. At the table, she only sat down once everyone’s plate was full. The company carries her name, and works to deserve it.

Who Maria was

Interpretive images, created from photographs of Maria.

Tell us your story.

It doesn’t need to be tidy. The beginning is enough; we’ll find the rest together.

My name is , and the story I would like to tell is

You can reply to me at .

We use this only to reply to you. Privacy.

We reply ourselves, within 24 hours. WhatsApp, +351 967 362 516 info@dovenalfilms.pt