Afonso Henrique

Afonso J Henrique was born in the province of Faro, Algarve, Portugal where he grew up loving and participating in soccer, fishing, and playing on the beach. Despite these everyday activities, Afonso had one interest that separated him from his contemporaries; his passion for drawing. His mother cheerfully recalls him at two years old happily running around with a piece of paper and pencil in hand. It was evident early on that Afonso had an aptitude for art. When Afonso was five, his mother, Maria moved him and his sister to America to seek greater opportunities. Upon arrival, Afonso's family spent a few years in Brooklyn, New York, before packing up and settling in Harrison, New Jersey, a small quaint town not far from the major city of Newark. At the age of nine, while growing up in Harrison, Afonso remained true to his passion and started making his own comic books with loose leaf paper, markers, and staples. Fostering this passion, Afonso started collecting comic books and greatly admired the works of Stan Lee and Bob Kane. At the age of twenty, Afonso joined the US Navy as a Mess/Culinary Specialist. During his time in the service, he explored the world, met incredible people and went to war Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom (OIF-OEF.) It was during his time in the service that Afonso became aware of his true calling - being a storyteller. An avid reader, Afonso began studying filmmakers and artists that resonated with him such as James Cameron, Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Peter Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro. After serving his country for twelve years, Afonso decided it was time to go back to school to get his degree. This was for two reasons: First, he was ready to pursue his true calling in life - telling stories through Film, just like the Filmmakers he respects and admires but more importantly, the second reason; his children. He wants to set an example and show them that with hard work and discipline anything is possible and that life is what you make if it. While attaining his A.A. in Writing and Literature from the Borough of Manhattan Community College and a B.A. in Screenwriting and Film Studies from Brooklyn College, he was selected for a Screenwriter's Fellowship with Time Warner. His determination and strong work ethic have earned him film awards as a writer and filmmaker but that's just the beginning according to Afonso. In just a few years, Afonso's passion and dedication for the love of his craft have blossomed. Afonso's writing and style have been noted and compared to the likes of Shane Black and Guillermo del Toro. He is described as a visionary with an eye to tell stories that resonate with the human and universal condition. Afonso is also a 2020 fellow for the Writer's Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project.