Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Rosan Svatmann, the famous American writer director behind the hits on television (“Fence”, “Donamim”) and film (“DeCenrola”), the American writer director, is again partnering with the ELO studio of “Gallota” (“Girls”). The new collaboration will appear shortly after “(des)contleol,” which just premiered the world at the Rio Film Festival. This cements Elo Studios’ interest in stories written by female Brazilian directors, such as Susanna Lira, a collaboration with Paramount Pictures, by Paramount Pictures, written by a storyline written by a Brazilian director, such as Susanna Lira, which premiered at this year’s event. Filming is scheduled for 2026.
Elo Studios will produce and distribute “Garota.” This follows the story of a 52-year-old woman who sees her life turned upside down as she loses her job, enters menopause and begins caring for an elderly dog abandoned by her mother. Once she starts posting about dogs online, women also need to enter a tricky digital world and navigate the even more tricky waters of aging.
Speaking to Variety from Rio Film Festival, Svartman says that when Elo Studios CEO Sabrina Wagon presented it to her, she was portrayed “quickly” by the project. “This is a woman dealing with menopause challenges and surprises through an older dog that no one wants. I took part in the project believing in the importance of revealing this woman who feels invisible. I wanted to watch this film.”
The Wagon points out that “Garota” was born from an award created by ELO Studios in collaboration with Telesin at the Kabilia Screenplay Festival, and awarded the best plot line by a promising screenwriter. Adriana Calabrabró won the first edition with what executives call “strong” ideas. The production company then worked with Calabroó with veteran screenwriter Flávia Guimarães, and eventually directed Svartman following a collaboration on “(des)Contle.”
Asked about Brazilian films’ recent interest in stories about women over 50, such as Gabriel Mascaro’s “Blue Trail” and Gloria Piers’ “Sexa,” Svartmann says that this trend is “films are a mirror of society.”
“The same sensations that older women face in their daily lives have been replicated for a long time in the audiovisual sector,” she adds. “But these women are alive, having fun, having sex, having anxiousness, and reforming themselves at the age of 50. These stories are preying for great movies.”
On a more analytical aspect, wagons point to ways in which there is a “structural shift in consumption and investment.” “The longevity economy is currently catering to large slices of global gross domestic product, with over 50s saying that over $45 trillion in 2020 will contribute to GDP, and by 2050, “Gallota” aims to fill this gap with great humor. ”
Executives also added that only 1.4% of the characters in the ads in Brazil in 2024 are over 60 years old, and in 2023 only 30% of the main characters are female. “Menopause debate is also growing in the public realm. The hashtag #MENOPAUSE has billions of perspectives on Tiktok, and the numbers show an expanding market (from US$18 billion in 2024 to US$27 in 2030).”
Speaking about her motivations for continuing support in creating stories like “Galota,” she says the wagon comes from her desire to invest in “permanent partnerships.” “There are moments when we start to choose who we want to tell, not just tell the story, but with who we are. Growing older within the film industry will help us learn how to be selective and prioritize projects that have a real connection with our audience.”
As for Svartman, he says he is confident that by working with Wagon and Elo Studios, the project will “make the best film possible with dedication and support to gather all the creative resources it needs.”
