Photo: Agência Brasil

Brasília’s Brazilian Film Festival kicks off Friday

11 Sept 202623:34·2 min read

Brazil’s longest-running film festival found itself at the center of its own drama, complete with a dash of suspense and action – but thankfully with a happy ending. The 59th edition of the Brasília Brazilian Film Festival begins this Friday (Sep. 11) after being canceled due to an alleged lack of funding and then reconfirmed within a few hours by the Federal District government.

Nearly 2,000 films were submitted – a new record for the festival. Of these, over 70 were selected for various programs. In addition to the competitive programs for feature films and short films, the festival will feature parallel programs and special screenings celebrating artists and themes relevant to the Brazilian audiovisual scene.

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Among the sections is Vozes e Lutas (“Voices and Struggles”), showcasing films noted for their portrayal of significant political and cultural movements. Among them is Pontos de Partida (“Starting Points”) by filmmaker Silvio Tendler, who passed away in September last year.

“Expectations are as high as they can be. One of the major highlights of this program is the significant presence of films from Brasília, with strong ties to the Federal District,” the festival’s general director, Sara Rocha, told Agência Brasil.

The festival began in 1965 and, over the decades, has established itself as a forum for discussion on Brazilian audiovisual culture. It was not held for only two years during the military dictatorship. During the pandemic, it was broadcast online.

In 2007, it was designated as an intangible cultural heritage of the Federal District.

“Heritage cannot be revoked. The festival is formally and emotionally recognized heritage, not only for Brasília but for all of Brazil. We are happy and proud to be able to present yet another edition of the festival. We hope everyone can enjoy it with us,” the general director declared.

Originally published by Agência Brasil