Projeto Paradiso, a philanthropic initiative supporting the Brazilian film sector from the Olga Rabinovich Institute, has selected the buzzy Brazilian film capital of Recife as the location for its third Paradiso Talent Network national meeting in April. Recife has skyrocketed to international prominence on screen following the success of Kleber Mendonça Filho’s quadruple-nominated “The Secret Agent,” which takes place in the Pernambuco capital, as well as being the home of other major Brazilian talent such as Silver Bear-winning “The Blue Trail” director Gabriel Mascaro and Marcelo Gomes (“Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures”).
Around 200 guests are expected, including members of the Paradiso Talent Network, members of Projeto Paradiso’s advisory board, players from Brazil’s Northeast region, and international guests yet to be announced. Now in its third edition, the gathering brings together professionals from Brazil’s audiovisual sector who have previously received support from Projeto Paradiso, in what is described as “a unique encounter of an exceptional pool of talent.”
Speaking of talent, Projeto Paradiso is currently on a major roll when it comes to spotlighting Brazilian prodigies to the world. The organization recently attended the International Film Festival Rotterdam alongside over a dozen members of their talent network following last year’s announcement of the HBF+Brazil program, delivered by IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund in partnership with the Brazilian philanthropic initiative, as well as RioFilme, Spcine and Embratur. The program is dedicated to supporting the early development of projects by second and third-time filmmakers from Brazil.
That momentum continues in Berlin, where, for the first time, films developed through Projeto Paradiso’s Incubator have their world premieres at a major A-list festival. The program, focused on the development of Brazilian fiction features, spawned two highly-anticipated Berlinale titles: Grace Passô’s debut feature “Our Secret” (“Nosso Segredo”), which was part of the 2021 cohort, and Allan Deberton’s “Gugu’s World” (“Feito Pipa”), developed in the 2020 edition of the program.
Passô praised the Incubator, saying it has become “a reference for the development of film projects in Brazil.” The filmmaker said the support she received throughout the program was “fundamental to bringing ‘Our Secret’ to life. “Being part of a program that encompasses skill building, craftmaking, funding and human encounters was transformative,” she added. “As artists, we are always searching for a place like this: one where it is possible to think, live, and survive in the market without giving up on dreams and experiments that also challenge systems.”
“Our Secret,” courtesy of entrefilms / Wilssa Esser
‘Our Secret’ © entrefilms / Wilssa Esser
“Gugu’s World” screenwriter André Araújo highlighted the program’s decentralization efforts, recalling how he joined the initiative during the pandemic, a “time of great uncertainty for everyone and especially challenging for filmmakers from outside of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.”
“Writing is, in itself, a solitary process, and the Incubator created a real space for exchange, both with other screenwriters and with mentors,” he continued. “The investment in the script and in the screenwriter, understood as the foundation of cinema, gave ‘Gugu’s World’ time and structure to mature. Premiering at the Berlinale has a very special meaning. It’s a project that was born from a very intimate place and now begins to exist in dialogue with other people, other cultures, and other perspectives. Beyond visibility, it’s the possibility for the film to circulate, create encounters, and open new paths.”
Director Allan Deberton emphasized the initiative’s focus on developing partnerships, saying that being part of the program “enabled the meeting of parties who went on to become co-producers and incredible partners. Deberton Filmes and Biônica Filmes came together through Projeto Paradiso, and for that I’m deeply grateful.”
Josephine Bourgois, executive director of Projeto Paradiso, said it is an “especially meaningful” moment for the Incubator, given it was the first program launched by the philanthropic initiative. “Following projects from early development through to a premiere at a festival like Berlinale reinforces the importance of long-term, consistent investment in creative processes and in Brazilian filmmakers, strengthening their trajectories from the very beginning.”
On top of “Our Secret” and “Gugu’s World,” Projeto Paradiso is supporting another whopping seven Brazilian features playing in Berlin through their Brasil no Mundo initiative, focused on strengthening Brazil’s presence in international festivals and markets. Titles include Gabe Klinger’s “Isabel,” André Novais Oliveira’s “If I Were Alive” and Marcelo Martinessi’s “Narciso.” The organization is also present at the Berlinale Co-Production Market with Lô Politi’s “Apneia,” which is part of the Talent Project Market.