Emilie Lesclaux

• Name — Emilie Lesclaux • Born — 12 September 1979 • Birthplace — Bordeaux, France • Citizenship — France • Occupation — Producer • Years Active — 2004–present • Spouse — Kleber Mendonça Filho • Children — 2

Lesclaux was born in Bordeaux, France, on 12 September 1979. A graduate in political science (Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux), she moved to Recife, Brazil, in 2002 to work at the French Consulate General. She settled in the capital of Pernambuco, where she also began working as a film producer.

Alongside her husband Kleber Mendonça Filho, she created the CinemaScópio label, which produces films set in Pernambuco. Her first producing credit was the short films Green Vinyl (2004) and Cold Tropics (2009), followed by the feature film Neighboring Sounds (2012), all directed by Mendonça. Her produced films Aquarius (2016) and Bacurau (2019), directed by Mendonça, had world premieres at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival where it were nominated for the Palme d'Or. In 2023, she produced Heartless, directed by Nara Normande and Tião, the film was selected to the Orizzonti section of the 80th Venice International Film Festival. In 2024, she produced Sleep with Your Eyes Open, directed by German filmmaker Nele Wohlatz, which follows the Chinese diaspora in Recife. The film was selected to the Encounters section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. In 2025, she produced The Secret Agent, also directed by Mendonça. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. At the 98th Academy Awards she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Lesclaux is married to Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho. The couple has two children, twins Tomás and Martin. They live in Recife. In 2016, she received the title of honorary citizen of Recife, officially granted by the City Council.

• Year — English title — Original title — Director(s) — Credit • 2004 — Green Vinyl — Vinil Verde — Kleber Mendonça Filho — Short film • 2009 — Cold Tropics — Recife Frio • 2012 — Neighboring Sounds — O Som ao Redor • 2014 — Heartless — Sem Coração — Nara Normande and Tião — Short film • 2015 — The World Cup in Recife — A Copa do Mundo no Recife — Kleber Mendonça Filho • 2016 — Aquarius • 2018 — Azougue Nazareth — Azougue Nazaré — Tiago Melo • 2019 — Bacurau — Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles • 2023 — Pictures of Ghosts — Retratos Fantasmas — Kleber Mendonça Filho — Documentary • Heartless — Sem Coração — Nara Normande and Tião • 2024 — Mr. Cavalcanti — Seu Cavalcanti — Leonardo Lacca • Sleep with Your Eyes Open — Dormir de Olhos Abertos — Nele Wohlatz • 2025 — The Secret Agent — O Agente Secreto — Kleber Mendonça Filho