LIONFISH PRODUCTIONS

SARA CF DE GOUVEIA

SARA GOUVEIA is an award winning filmmaker and interdisciplinary artist based in Cape Town. Her films have strong visual aesthetics and explore the line between fiction and reality. Sara often collaborates with musicians, artists and performers to explore broader existential and historical themes.

Sara’s first feature length documentary "THE SOUND OF MASKS" had its World Premiere at IDFA 2018 and was described in magazine Africa is a Country as “a visual meditation on the nature of memory in postcolonial societies”. The film screened at the MARRAKECH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2018, HOT DOCS 2019, NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL 2019, THE DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND DOCLISBOA 2019. The film received the award for Best Feature Documentary at the Plateau International Film Festival 2019 and the 14th SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Cinematography as well as SAFTA nominations for Best Feature Documentary and Best Editing in 2020. In 2021 the film received the awards for Best International Feature and Best Direction at the 7th Brasil Festival of International Cinema.

Her documentary “ALBIE": A STRANGE ALCHEMY”, had its premiere at the Encounters South African Documentary Film Festival 2025. She was also the cinematographer and editor in “WE, PEOPLE OF THE ISLANDS”, which premiered at IndieLisboa 2025.

Sara has participated in the DURBAN FILM MART, IDFA SUMMER SCHOOL, HOT DOCS BLUE-ICE LAB, DOCSOCIETY, AND BERLINALE TALENTS, with her work broadcast on platforms like Showmax, PBS, CGTN, SABC and RTP. She has also participated in the CASA DO XISTO 16mm residency in Portugal in 2022, the TANKWA ARTSCAPE RESIDENCY, the BODHI KHAYA RESIDENCY and ELECTRIC SOUTH: NEW DIMENSIONS LAB in South Africa 2024.

Documentaries

Music Videos & SHORTS

Commercials