Empowering São Paulo's Cinematic Vision on the Global Stage

Spcine's Strategic Initiatives at Cannes

Spcine is making a significant impact at the Cannes Film Festival this year, actively working to enhance Brazil's profile. The organization is diligently fostering strategic alliances and highlighting São Paulo as an attractive global center for film and television. Concurrently, Spcine is providing crucial support for six domestic cinematic productions across various segments and programs of the festival.

Fostering International Growth for São Paulo's Audiovisual Sector

Spcine's involvement in Cannes is a pivotal element of its comprehensive strategy to internationalize São Paulo's audiovisual industry. This strategy, spearheaded by Spcine, encompasses institutional backing, encouraging the global reach of artistic works, and strengthening the production infrastructure within São Paulo. The company has allocated approximately R$60 million (equivalent to $11.8 million) for investment in the audiovisual sector by 2026, covering all stages from concept development to production and distribution.

Collaborative Discussions and Market Presence

On Monday, Spcine will join forces with fellow Brazilian entities Projeto Paradiso, RioFilme, and Embratur for a panel discussion at the Marché du Film. This session will focus on the ongoing development of the Hubert Bals Fund + Brasil (HBF+Brasil) Development Support Initiative. This marks the culmination of a dynamic week for Spcine, filled with exclusive presentations, events, film screenings, interactive panels, and social gatherings, including a notable panel in collaboration with the São Paulo state government, highlighting local audiovisual creations.

Driving São Paulo's Global Ambitions in Film

Anna Paula Montini, President of Spcine, articulated the organization's clear objective at Cannes: to elevate São Paulo's audiovisual industry internationally and create tangible opportunities for local companies and creative professionals. She emphasized that their efforts are geared towards solidifying São Paulo's standing as a leading and competitive hub for the co-production, development, and distribution of audiovisual content worldwide.

Supporting Local Talent and Productions

This year, Spcine is directly facilitating the participation of 12 companies from São Paulo at the Cannes market. Additionally, it is enabling the attendance of 10 professionals chosen through the ICAB Next Frame program, an initiative designed to expand the global reach of audiovisual talent. These participants are engaged in crucial strategic meetings during the Marché du Film, building valuable connections.

Engaging with International Partners and Markets

Spcine also extends its support to Cinema do Brasil, an organization with a packed schedule of institutional and market meetings involving producers, distributors, sales agents, and representatives from international funds. Their planned activities include engagements with delegates from India, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Uruguay, and Colombia, fostering cross-cultural collaboration.

Advancing Co-development and Works-in-Progress

Furthermore, Spcine is committed to supporting ongoing co-development and works-in-progress initiatives in partnership with global organizations, such as the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa. These programs are showcased at Cannes with their selected and supported projects, with the current focus on broadening their impact and reach.

Showcasing Brazilian Films at Cannes

The organization is currently backing six Brazilian films and projects that have been selected for various prestigious sections and programs at Cannes. Among these is Abinash Bikram Shah's debut feature, "Elephants in the Fog," a co-production with São Paulo-based Enquadramento Produções, which is screening in Un Certain Regard, a testament to the quality of regional productions.

Spotlighting Emerging Talent and Dystopian Narratives

Nina Kopko's project, "The Last Dog on Earth," a dystopian feature film set in São Paulo and produced by Boulevard Filmes, is a highlight of this year's Fabrique Cinéma support program. Boulevard Filmes previously received investment from Spcine through the Creative Hubs grant in 2023, demonstrating the organization's commitment to nurturing local talent.

Presenting Works-in-Progress and Short Films

The Goes to Cannes works-in-progress showcase features Fábio Mendonça's "The Character," produced by AMAIA Produções, and Jeferson De's "Carolina Maria de Jesus," a collaborative effort between Brazil and France, involving the renowned São Paulo-based production company Dezenove Som e Imagens. Additionally, Lucas Acher's short film "Laser-Gato," filmed in São Paulo by local production companies, is part of the La Cinef showcase. Rosa Caldeira and Nay Mendl's short project "Ladainha" ("The Sea Remains") is participating in the Focus Script mentoring program, further highlighting the diversity of Brazilian cinematic contributions.

Continuing the Hubert Bals Fund + Brasil Initiative

Monday's agenda will primarily center on the ongoing HBF+Brasil initiative, building on a highly successful pilot phase. Launched last year by four of Brazil's leading industry support organizations and the Rotterdam Film Festival's Hubert Bals Fund, HBF+Brasil awarded grants of €10,000 ($11,627) to 10 Brazilian feature film projects, celebrating the rich diversity of contemporary Brazilian audiovisual creations.

Expanding Support for New Projects

The Monday afternoon event will delve into the outcomes of the inaugural HBF+Brasil program and officially launch its second edition, which has chosen 11 new projects for support. These include four projects from São Paulo, backed by Spcine; four from Rio de Janeiro, supported by RioFilme; one from other regions of Brazil, facilitated by Projeto Paradiso; and two works originating outside Rio and São Paulo, with assistance from Embratur.

Key Figures in Brazilian Audiovisual

The first HBF+Brasil panel will feature prominent figures such as Montini; Leonardo Edde, president of RioFilme; Christiano Braga, head of Audiovisual at Embratur; and Josephine Bourgois, executive director of Projeto Paradiso. The subsequent discussion will include Tamara Tatishvili, director of the Hubert Bals Fund; Frank Hoeve from Amsterdam-based Baldr Film; Ivan Melo of CUP Filmes in São Paulo; and Tatiana Leite of Rio de Janeiro’s Bubbles Project, bringing diverse perspectives to the table.

"Matinée Brazil" and Brazil-Japan Co-Production Dialogue

Earlier on Monday, "Matinée Brazil" will be presented by RioFilme, Spcine, Embratur, Festival do Rio, Globo, and the Brazilian Ministry of Culture’s Secretariat of Audiovisual. This event will feature a series of discussions and presentations on Brazil's audiovisual industry and its support organizations. Concurrently, ABRASIA and Cinema do Brasil will host "Brazil–Japan: Building New Bridges in International Co-Production," a presentation commemorating 130 years of Brazilian-Japanese co-production and cultural collaboration. This panel will convene producers and institutions to showcase existing partnerships and explore new avenues for joint audiovisual development, co-production, and narrative creation across both nations.