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Portuguese actor and filmmaker Luís Filipe Rocha debuted as an actor in José Fonseca e Costa's O Recado/The Message (1971) after receiving professional training at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Rocha's interest in the arts began with his involvement when he joined an amateur theatrical group while majoring in law. On-stage, Rocha both acted and assistant directed various productions. As a professional, Rocha joined the Cinequanon cooperative in 1975 and was assistant director to Peter Lilienthat on Es Herrsch' Ruhe im Land/The Country Is Calm (1975). Rocha went on to direct several politically charged films for the Instituto Portugués de Cinema (IPC). Rocha founded his own production company, Prole Filme, in 1977 and through it made his most famous film, Cerromaior. Rocha stopped making films in the '80s and relocated in Macao. He did not return until 1991, when he released Amor e Dedinhos de Pé.