César Augusto
@cesaraugustoScreenwriter and author from Fortaleza, Ceará. Studied under Karim Aïnouz, Sérgio Machado, and Marcelo Gomes. I write Tropical Noir — stories about people who need to survive, no matter what. Difficult families, complicated decisions, trauma, and the violence of this world. But also love, cachaça, and forró.
Published Works
18 works published
Featured Works
César's first novel. The story of an all-female bank robbery gang who must pull off a series of risky heists to save their mentor, held by a mysterious group. They also face a violent BOPE captain who sees capturing the gang as his big political opportunity. Semifinalist for the Prêmio Aberst (Short Crime Narrative). Published October 2022.
A contemporary thriller feature screenplay. Top 3 winner at the Concurso Roteiros e Narrativas (2025). Described as an intense, contemporary thriller that's affordable to produce.
A drama series pilot. Winner of the Narratologia Drama Pilot category (2023) and semifinalist at FRAPA in the Series Pilot category (2024).
A crime series about a federal police officer specializing in maritime crimes, who has 76 hours to solve a disappearance on a cruise ship before it sets sail and takes all the answers with it. Semifinalist at FRAPA (Drama Pilot, 2018) and Sundance Episodic Lab (2019).
All Works
A Neo Western TV series created by César Augusto, optioned by Sentimental Filmes.
Writers' room assistant on an original crime series in development for Amazon Prime Video, at Boutique Filmes.
A thriller novel. Semifinalist for the TikTok Livros do Futuro prize, with a Harper Collins publication as the prize for the winner.
A TV series project about wrongful convictions, developed at Porto Iracema das Artes (2024).
A Neo Western about a teenager who steals a donkey and an old carbine to cross the sertão of Ceará in search of the man who murdered her father. Semifinalist at Lab 51 (TDC Conteúdo + Writer's Room, 2022).
Three short stories in the 'Crimes à Brasileira' anthology by editora Luva (2021): 'Uma Questão de Dever' — a mother trying to stop her murderous son; 'Os Donos do Bairro' — two retired hitmen who used to be a couple reunite; 'Quando Tudo Isso Era Mar' — a man returns to his old neighborhood and faces gentrification and racism.
Short story published in the 'Pintura das Palavras' anthology (2020). The story of an alcoholic woman reconsidering her life while deciding whether or not to drink the shot of cachaça on the table in front of her.
The story of Cleiton, a man who fights in clandestine competitions and is exploited by his father. Cleiton has a chance to escape that world, but to do so he needs to leave a trail of violence behind. Top 10 bestseller in Amazon's Noir category (2020).
A Coming of Age feature with Noir elements. A teenager inherits an Opala from his absent father and gets involved with criminals who want the car as payment for a debt. Developed at the Lab Varilux (French-Brazilian Cinema Laboratory, 2019).
Director, screenwriter and producer of the music video 'Echo Room' for the band Nuuvem.
Co-wrote an episode of the TV series Artes de Proa, which explores the creative processes of participants at Porto Iracema das Artes laboratories. Aired in 2018.
A comic book adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's 'Dagon', in partnership with artist J.P. Freire. The comic had a sold-out print run at Comic Con Portugal (2017).
A Neo Western about a corrupt cop who ends up being used as a scapegoat by landowners in a small town in rural Ceará. Developed at the Laboratório do Porto Iracema das Artes (2016), under the mentorship of Karim Aïnouz, Sérgio Machado, and Marcelo Gomes.
César's first short film. The story of a musician who needs to find a way to escape a violent and cruel criminal.