He was born in Rio de Janeiro. After studying Law, he became a film critic and headed the review Revista Latina. From 1954, he directed and performed many plays. In 1959, he started his carreer in cinema and directed 19 films (short, medium and full length) awarded in national and international festivals. The French Film Institute presented his work in 1966 and 1973; his movies were also shown in Berlin and Lisbon. He founded with others the cinema novo. Natal da Portela [1988] is his tenth feature film. His film Capitu [1967] was shown at The Directors' Fortnight's first edition, in 1969.

Filmography
1988 : Natal da Portela (Cannes Directors's Fortnight 1988)
1983 : Bahia de todos os sambas (co-réalisé avec Léon Hirszman)
1981 : Au Sud de mon corps
1978 : Artes e Politica (co-réalisé avec Maurice Capovilla)
1976 : Anchieta, Jose do Brasil
1972 : Amor, Carnaval e sounos
1971 : La Maison assassinée
1967 : Capitu (Cannes Directors's Fortnight 1969)
1965 : Le Défi
1962 : Porto das Caixas

Source:
www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/paulo-cezar-saraceni-r9745.html