Film Festival Connects United States’ and Brazil’s Film Industries

Film Festival Connects United States’ and Brazil’s Film Industries
  • September 04, 2020
  • News

Film Festival Connects United States’ and Brazil’s Film Industries

The 13th annual Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival will begin in October 2020.


Every year, the film capital of the world opens its doors to talented Brazilians who share their cinema from the country of samba, bossa nova, and Carnival. This showcase of Brazil’s industry leaders has been taking place since the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival’s first debut in 2008. Conceived by film producer Meire Fernandes and journalist Nazareno Paulo, the event grew stronger with support from both Brazilian and American actors who understood that there was great opportunity in the connections that they were introduced to through a film festival. The earliest events held by LABRFF featured the attendance of rising Brazilian talent in the U.S., like actor Rodrigo Santoro and director Fernando Meirelles (City of God), in addition to established Hollywood talent like Dustin Hoffman. The film festival showcased that the cultural exchange of industry professionals was, indeed, relevant. Moreover, 12 years after its debut, LABRFF has exhibited more than 800 features and awarded more than 300 professionals in Brazilian cinema. Networking opportunities between sessions provide life-long connections for attendees. Creatives who meet at LABRFF often end up collaborating on new projects that emerged during the festival. Film students, including event volunteers, return to following festivals with films of their own at the Official Selection. The Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival prides itself in generating fresh new talent. This year, the Brazil California Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) is once again proud to support the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival and the further connections between the United States’ and Brazil’s film industries. 


In addition to celebrating Brazilian film and fostering connections, the festival also plays a fundamental role in generating business between Brazil and the U.S. The Brazilian Film Market (BFM), a part of the LABRFF, bridges the gap in Brazilian talent within the American market. The first Netflix original film from Brazil, “The Killer” (“O Matador”) directed by Marcelo Galvão, was signed on at the Brazilian Film Market, as well as other projects like “Single Almost Crazy” (“Solteira Quase Surtando”) which premiered in Brazilian theaters this year was a coproduction with MGM. In observing the power of the music market, LABRFF has aligned with the rising demand for networking in this area and founded the Los Angeles International Music Video Festival - LAMV in 2019, showcasing big names in Brazilian music with its first edition, says Manoel Neto, director of LAMV. In 2020, the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival innovated again and adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 13th edition of the event, from October 21st to the 25th , will be shifting to Filmocracy, a platform that allows a virtually social festival experience. Filmocracy serves as an advanced streaming service, with a variety of films, virtual theaters, meeting rooms, and panel discussions, where participants can watch conversations through videoconference. The innovative tool caps at 10,000 online users in the same virtual ‘building’. There is also a playful feature that turns virtual socializing more interesting- the virtual theaters at LABRFF, to note, will receive individual’s names who are dear to Brazilian cinema. Interested producers will be able to keep their films online for the public at no additional cost, through the LABRFF On Demand channel. It’s a great opportunity to distribute through revenue share. Now more than ever, it is certain that music and audiovisual professionals need to be in sync, as the industry keeps moving and presenting wonderful projects. The Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival honors its mission of creating connections and promoting culture online and in real time.

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