Monique Gardenberg was born in 1958, in Salvador, Brazil. She studied economics at the University of Rio de Janeiro and followed a 3-month film course at New York University where she made the short films Insônia and Day 67. Her third short film Diário Noturno was selected by the Venice Film Festival. After directing music videos, Gardenberg worked several years as stage director before returning back to filmmaking. Her second feature Benjamin won several awards at film festivals in Rio and Miami, including best picture. In 2007, she made her third feature Ó Paí, Ó which inspired a 6 episode TV series on Globo channel, the largest commercial television network in Latin America.

Filmography
Features
2007 Ó Paí, Ó
2003 Benjamin
1996 The Interview (Jenipapo)

Shorts
1993 Diário Noturno
1989 Day 67
1989 Insônia (Insomnia)