This past Sunday, the Madeiran photographer and filmmaker João Pestana would be 91 years old. João António Filipe Pestana (b. Funchal, August 23, 1929; d. December 15, 2017) left us an image collection, rich in its quality and diversity, in a productive source that includes the most varied artistic productions, photographs reports for the local press and illustrations of cultural and commercial editions of all kinds. Particular emphasis to the 1997 editions, “Vivências” and “Câmara de Lobos”, where he published images taken in the sixties of the twentieth century, in the Old Town of Funchal, and in the fishing village of “Câmara de Lobos” respectively, which in addition to the their artistic interest, it also assumes an invaluable patrimonial, documentary and anthropological value. As a filmmaker, he made documentaries for the cinema, films for the small screen and advertising excerpts, with some collaborations as a technician in the film making “As Ilhas Encantadas” (1964, directed by Carlos Vilardebó); "Pearl of the Atlantic" (1968, directed by José Fonseca e Costa) and "Madeira, nossa ilha" (1977, directed by José Luís Cabrita). His work was recognized in life with the following distinctions: National INTEMPO trophy - Photography (1992); Cultural Merit Medal (Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 1992); Order of Merit of the Portuguese Republic (2005); Gold Medal of Municipal Merit (Funchal City Council, 2014). He was also awarded by the Brazilian Institute of International Cultures, with the Jorge Amado Medal. Soon, a selection of his work will be on display in the Temporary Exhibition room of the Madeira Photography Museum - Atelier Vicente’s.
Credits: Museu de Fotografia da Madeira - Atelier Vicente's.
