Project Paradiso, the philanthropic initiative of the Olga Rabinovic Institute supporting the Brazilian film industry, has chosen Recife, the vibrant capital of Brazilian cinema, as the venue for the third National Conference of the Paradiso Talent Network, to be held in April. Recife has soared in film prominence following the success of Kleber Mendonça Filho’s four-nominated film The Secret Agent, set in Pernambuco’s capital, and is also home to some of Brazil’s leading talent, including Silver Bear-winning Blue Trail director Gabriel Mascaro and Marcelo Gómez (Cinema, Aspirin, Vultures).
Approximately 200 guests are expected, including members of the Paradiso Talent Network, members of Projeto Paradiso’s advisory board, athletes from northeastern Brazil, and guests from other countries yet to be announced. Now in its third year, the gathering brings together Brazilian audiovisual experts previously supported by Projeto Paradiso, and is described as a “unique meeting of an outstanding group of talents.”
Speaking of talent, Projeto Paradiso is currently on a roll when it comes to introducing Brazil’s genius players to the world. The organization recently attended the International Film Festival Rotterdam with more than a dozen members of its talent network, following last year’s announcement of the HBF+ Brazil program, implemented by IFFR’s Hubert Valls Foundation in partnership with Brazilian philanthropy initiatives RioFilme, Spcine and Embratur. This program is dedicated to supporting the early development of projects by second and third generation Brazilian filmmakers.
The momentum continues in Berlin, where for the first time a film developed through Projeto Paradiso’s incubator will have its world premiere at a major A-list festival. This program, which focuses on the development of Brazilian works of fiction, has produced two highly anticipated Berlinale titles. One is Grace Passau’s debut novel “Our Secret” (“Nosso Segredo”), which was part of the 2021 edition, and the other is Alan Debarton’s “Gugu’s World” (“Feito Pipa”), which was developed in the 2020 edition of the program.
Mr. Passo praised the incubator as “a reference for the development of film projects in Brazil.” The filmmaker added that the support he received throughout the program was “the basis for bringing ‘Our Secret’ to life. Participating in a program that included skill-building, craft-making, fundraising, and human encounters was transformative. As artists, we are always looking for places like this: places where we can think, live, and survive in the marketplace without giving up on our dreams and experiments, without giving up on experiments that challenge the system.”
“Our Secret”, provided by entrefilms / Wilssa Esser
“Our Secret” © entrefilms / Wilssa Esser
“The World of Goo Goo” screenwriter Andre Araujo recalled how he joined the effort during the pandemic, “a time of great uncertainty for everyone and especially difficult for filmmakers outside of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo,” and emphasized the program’s commitment to decentralization.
“Writing a screenplay in itself is a lonely process, but the incubator created a space for real interaction with other screenwriters and mentors,” he continued. “The investment in the script and the screenwriters, understood as the basis of the film, has given The World of Goo-Goo the time and structure to mature. The premiere at Bernale has a very special meaning. This is a project that came from a very intimate place and is now beginning to exist in dialogue with other peoples, other cultures, other points of view. Beyond the visible, cinema can circulate, create encounters and open new avenues.”
Director Alan Debarton emphasized the initiative’s focus on developing partnerships, saying that participating in the program “allowed us to meet people who would later become co-producers and great partners. Debarton Films and Bionica Films came together through Project Paradiso, and I am deeply grateful for that.”
Projet Paradiso executive director Josephine Bourgois said this was a “particularly meaningful” moment for the incubator, given that it was the first program launched by the philanthropy. “Tracking a project from early development to its premiere at a festival like the Berlinale highlights the importance of long-term, consistent investment in the creative process and Brazilian filmmakers, strengthening their trajectory from the beginning.”
In addition to “Our Secret” and “Gugu’s World,” Projeto Paradiso is supporting seven further Brazilian works to be performed in Berlin through the Brazil no Mundo initiative, which focuses on strengthening Brazil’s presence in international festivals and markets. Titles include Gabe Klinger’s “Isabelle,” Andre Novais Oliveira’s “If I Were Alive,” and Marcelo Martinezi’s “Narciso.” The organization is also participating in the Berlinale co-production market with Lo Politi’s “Apneia”, which is part of the Talent Project market.
