Brazilian director Breno Silveira, an award-winning veteran of international film festivals, died Saturday on the set of his latest project after having a heart attack, according to his production firm and media reports.

His production company, Conspiracao Filmes, announced in a statement that the 58-year-old was “one of our finest filmmakers, a symbol of Brazilian culture and creativity.” He directed contemporary masterpieces such as “Two Sons of Francisco” (2005) and “Gonzaga” (2012).

Brazilian media reports said he had suffered a massive heart attack on the set of his latest project, “Dona Vitoria,” starring famed actress Fernanda Montenegro.

The movie, based on the true story of an elderly woman who started filming the drug dealers on the street outside her window and uncovered a major corruption scheme, was being shot in the northeastern state of Pernambuco.

Silveira studied cinema at the Ecole Louis Lumiere in Paris.

He started his career as a director of photography, gaining notice with films such as “Me You Them” (2000), which was screened at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard category.

He made his directorial debut in 2005 with “Two Sons of Francisco,” which broke box office records in Brazil.

It won four awards at Brazil’s Grand Prizes of Cinema and was the country’s entry for Best Foreign-Language Film at the Oscars.

Silveira’s films had been shown at film festivals in Toronto, Havana, and Monte-Carlo, and he was also known for his television work.

According to his production company, he is survived by his wife and two daughters.