Manuela Serra studied film at the Institut des Arts et Diffusion (IAD) in Brussels, Belgium, from 1971 to 1974. She worked as an assistant editor (archive material, 1974-75 events) for the film Deus, Pátria, Autoridade. She was a founding member of the Virver film cooperative until she left it in 1981. At that point, she worked as a producer and assistant director for several medium-length films and for Rui Simões’ film, Bom Povo Português. Between 1979 and 1985 she produced, directed and wrote the screenplay for her first work, O Movimento das Coisas In 1990 she began writing the screenplay for a second film, Swell, which was not approved.