About Ricardo Graça
20 years of animation, free software and visual storytelling
I'm Ricardo Graça — director, animator, scriptwriter and researcher with over 20 years of audiovisual production. My career combines independent animation cinema, corporate production, academic research and education.
From the start, I chose free software as my production tools — Blender, Krita, Inkscape, Kdenlive. Not out of economy, but out of conviction: I believe technological sovereignty is a condition for creative emancipation. I produce internationally awarded animations, serve clients in 15 countries, and have built a 100% open pipeline that delivers professional quality without proprietary license dependency.
JourneyHighlights
of audiovisual production with free software
clients in Brazil, Europe, US, Asia, Africa and Oceania
Public Choice Award (Hollywood North 2025) · Best Film (Hell de Janeiro 2023)
author of technical works on animation and free software
member of Brazilian Screenwriters Association
credited screenwriter and director
in Corporate Communication
in Audiovisual Production
EducationAcademia and research
- Master's in Corporate Communication
- Researcher in Semiotic Analysis of Animation Cinema (Deleuze and Guattari)
- Specialization in Audiovisual Production
- Bachelor's in Literature — language and narrative mastery
- Bachelor's in Visual Arts (in progress)
- Editor of Rizomático online journal — rizomatico.org (ISSN 3086-4488)
PhilosophyTechnological sovereignty
My theoretical foundations range from Deleuze to Hayao Miyazaki, from Peircean semiotics to free software philosophy. I believe a tool you cannot control can be taken from you at any moment — and that audiovisual production does not need expensive licenses or proprietary infrastructure to be relevant.
All my work — from short films to corporate projects — is produced exclusively with free software, on self-owned servers, with open file formats. It is a political, aesthetic and pedagogical stance.
FilmsAwarded short films
O Buraco (The Hole)
🏆 Hell de Janeiro Award — Best Film from Rio de Janeiro (Technical Jury)
Caminho das Alturas (Path of Heights)
🏆 Public Choice Award — Hollywood North International Film Festival (2025)
Paulo Gustavo Grant 2023
ImpactEducation and community
- 2007–2017: Educator and art educator — animation and game creation workshops held at SESC units in Rio de Janeiro
- 2015–2017: Digital culture coordinator at Pontão Arroios (Cinema Nosso NGO)
- 2016–2017: Digital culture coordinator at Rio Solidário project (Cidadela NGO)
- 2024: Lectures on AI in education and animation with free software at SESC units in Rio de Janeiro
- 2024: Game creation workshop at a SESC unit in Rio de Janeiro
Let's talk?
If you have a project in mind, get in touch. I'll respond within one business day.
Get in touch