Alexandre Avancini was born in São Paulo (Brazil) and he is considered the best action director in Brazilian television. Avancini is the son of legendary director Walter Avancini, one of the most influent and respected directors in the history of Brazilian television. Alexandre Avancini worked for Rede Globo network for 23 years, displaying a robust body of work at the network.
Rede Globo is the biggest TV network in Brazil. Located in Rio de Janeiro, it is watched by more than 200 million people every day, in Brazil and abroad through Rede Globo International. It is the second biggest commercial television network in the world, behind just ABC and one of the most prolific tv series producer. It reaches 98,56% the Brazilian territory, covers 5.490 cities and around 99,55% of the total Brazilian population. The company is part of the Globo Corporation, one of the biggest media conglomerates of the planet.
In the early 2000’s Alexandre decided to leave Rede Globo and accept the challenge to implement Rede Record’s network soundstage and become a challenging competitor to Globo, in which Avancini succeeded.
At RedeRecord, Avancini was responsible for raising the ratings at Record at respectable levels, also directing Record’s highest ratings tv series, such as “Prova de Amor”, “Vidas Opostas”, “Os Dez Mandamentos”, “A Terra Prometida” and the biblical miniseries “José do Egito”.
His professional trajectory has become a big reference for the industry. Adept to state of the art cinematography equipment, his body of work can be compared to big Hollywood productions. Before he became Record’s head director, Avancini trailed a long path. He started his career in 1982 at Rede Globo, climbing his way up from VT operator, editor and AD.
Before countless memorable jobs as a director in Rede Globo, Avancini worked as assistant director in tv series such as Mico Preto (1990), Anos Rebeldes (1992), Sex Appeal (1993) and O Dono do Mundo (1991). When he was 30 years old Avancini took over the director’s role and was responsible for tv series and miniseries such as Pátria Minha (1994), Quatro por Quatro (1994), História de Amor (1995), Anjo de Mim (1996), Por Amor (1997), Meu Bem Querer (1998), Suave Veneno (1999), Uga-Uga (2000), Presença de Anita (2001), O Quinto dos Infernos (2002), Coração de Estudante (2002) and Kubanacan (2003).
Avancini’s first work at TV Record was Prova de Amor (2005), which became so successful it manage to topple Globo in the ratings, which cause a big sensation since till then Globo’s leadershio had never been unchallenged. From that moment on the teledramaturgy at TV Record could not be stopped. Avancini also directed the award- winning tv series Vidas Opostas (2007), the first tv series shot inside a real slum in Rio de Janeiro. It’s ratings also surpassed Globo’s more than once.
His next tv series, Caminhos do Coração (2007), had several visual effects and also broke ratings records. It’s success encouraged TV Record to create a new show, a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and adventure: Caminhos do Coração (2007), followed by Os Mutantes (2008) and, then, Promessas de Amor (2009). This trilogy earned him a nomination as best director by Prêmio Contigo de TV (Brazilian ́s Premium Award) in 2007.
In 2009, Avancini directed the miniseries “A lei e o Crime”, written by Marcílio Moraes. This crime serialized show brought an innovative format and was a huge hit, giving Avancini yet another nomination as best director at the “Prêmio Qualidade Brasil (Brazilian ́s Premium Award) in 2009.
Avancini also directed the tv series “Vidas em Jogo” (2011) and won the Canadian premium “Banff World Media Festival” in 2012, on the best melodrama category. Also in 2012, Avancini produced “O Presente” that won the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival on the best short film category.
In 2013, Avancini directed the biblical miniseries “José do Egito” with 38 chapters and a production cost north of R$ 60 million, the most expensive production in the history of Brazilian television. The miniseries had scenes shot in Egypt, Israel, Chile and Recnov’s studios with Arri Alexa5 digital cameras. “José do Egito” was also successful in EUA, where it aired on Fox Mundo channel. in 2013 Avancini directed the tv serie “Pecado Mortal”, by Carlos Lombardi. It won the “Banff World Media Festival” in 2014 in Canada in the best melodrama category. Abroad, the novel was called “Sins”.
In 2014 and 2015, Avancini directed the first biblical tv series in the world, “Os Dez Mandamentos”. The idea to turn Moses saga into a soap came from the director himself. “Os Dez Mandamentos” was an absolute success and it’s ratings beat Globo’s primetime series 2 to 1. It was voted Brazilian best tv series by the ABI Press. Thanks to the success of “Os Dez Mandamentos”, Avancini was invited to direct another biblical super production, the soap opera “A Terra Prometida”, the follow-up to the Ten Commandments story, to start airing June 2016.
“The Ten Commandments: film set to be biggest box office hit in Brazil history” By The Guardian
“O longa vendeu antecipadamente 4 milhões de ingressos, o que o converte no maior sucesso de bilheteria do cinema brasileiro no ano” By Revista Exame
“A cinebiografia de Edir Macedo vendeu mais de 11.8 milhões de ingressos, acumulando uma bilheteria de R$ 118 milhões nos últimos meses” By Terra
The love for art started early. Avancini used to hide from his dad and evade sleep in order to see the films that his father watched at night. “I had to go to bed early, but ran away from by bedroom and stayed in the corner of the living room in order to
watch the films. Several years later I told him and he said he always knew”, remember Avancini. Although he followed the same career as his father, Avancini was never afraid of comparisons. “My father was the best television director that ever existed. He knew everything about acting, everything out of everything.”
Avancini’s shots are literally filled with action. “I prefer the scenes that are recorded outside. Action scenes are very difficult to make, but, if well done, keep the viewers glued in”, he says.
Alexandre Avancini is married to actress Nanda Ziegler and they have a son, Enrico. He also has a daughter, Valentina, from his first marriage.