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Karim Aïnouz

Karim Aïnouz

Director, writer and producer, also actor · Born January 17, 1966 (60) · Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Cannes award winner · Venice award nominee · Berlinale award winner · 1 other major award body

Karim Aïnouz (born 17 January 1966) is a Brazilian filmmaker and visual artist. Description above from the Wikipedia article Karim Aïnouz, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 17, 1966 (60)
From
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Works as
Director, writer and producer, also actor
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 26% in 30 days

What are Karim Aïnouz's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Self
20%
Survival
14%
Society
13%
Ideas
12%
Power
9%
Morality
3%
Identity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDisplacement2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 3 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 7

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 3 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
8
Tense
5
Contemplative
4
Hopeful
2
Warm
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Karim Aïnouz's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Karim Aïnouz's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

50 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Rosebush Pruning(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Motel Destino(2024)

    Director · Co-Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Firebrand(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Mariner of the Mountains(2021)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Nardjes A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Mission Persephone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Screenplay

  • 30/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • We Still Have the Deep Black Night(2019)

    Script Consultant

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Invisible Life(2019)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Central Airport THF (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Velázquez – Wild Realism (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer

  • Short Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Cathedrals of Culture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Writer

  • Futuro Beach(2014)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Writer

  • Venice 70: Future Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Keep the Lights On(2012)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Silver Cliff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Writer

  • Destricted.br experimental (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Writer

  • Sunny Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

  • Neverquiet (Film of Wonders) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Alice Especial, Part 1: The First Day of the Rest of My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Bra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • The Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Associate Producer

  • I Travel Because I Have to, I Come Back Because I Love You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer

  • Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 15 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

  • OK (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer

  • Love for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • Lower City(2005)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures(2005)

    Associate Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • If It Where Always Like This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • Pool Acrylic Blue Hinterland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • Madame Satã(2002)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Behind the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Screenplay

  • Rifa-me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Writer

  • Les Ballons des Bairros (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Writer

  • Hic Habitat Felicitas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Irreversible Metabolic Shock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Dead Presidents(1995)

    Assistant Editor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Seams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Swoon(1992)

    Assistant Editor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • O Preso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Writer

  • Poison(1991)

    Assistant Editor · Casting · Electrician

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • La Divina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Sound Editor

  • Favela High-Tech (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Joqueta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Lana Jaguaribe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Last Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • O Sol na Cabeça (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Trevo de Quatro Navalhas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles, 44 of them dated from 1989 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Firebrand (2023)

$4.5M worldwide

Highest rated

Invisible Life (2019)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Rosebush Pruning (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing38 of 50: 13 only directing, 25 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stWriting28 of 50: 3 only writing, 25 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thProducing6 of 50: 3 only producing, 3 with another roleCinematography1 of 50: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleOther crew6 of 50: 5 only other crew, 1 with another role

50 titles, 26 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 24 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s8 · crew2000s10 · crew2010s19 · crew2020s6 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

2 major awards from 15 major nominations, 2002–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Berlinale award, nominated · Best Film
  2. 2024
    • Cannes award, nominated ×2
  3. 2023
    • Cannes award, nominated
  4. 2020
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best International Film
  5. 2019
    • Cannes award, won
  6. 2018
    • Berlinale award, won
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  7. 2014
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  8. 2011
    • Cannes award, nominated ×2
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 2009
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
  2. 2006
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
  3. 2002
    • Cannes award, nominated ×2

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Karim Aïnouz's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 15; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 15 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · director

30/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing (2019)

86th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer

Invisible Life (2019)

Midcredits 97th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 78/100 and the pacing 43/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Karim Aïnouz's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles56–81 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles39–71 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Karim Aïnouz work with?

People who share at least 2 of Karim Aïnouz's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hélène Louvart shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers