6 days ago
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Flavio Frederico and Mariana Pamplona’s “Clandestine – The Life of Iara Iavelberg,” Beto Oliveira’s “Flora” and Lucas Peligrineti’s “Pupupu/Bibibi” feature in the lineups of Rio2C’s Industry Pitching, one of the highlights of the mega creativity forum which kicks off Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
Covering 24 titles split in four sections – Fiction, Animation, Documentary/Factual and Reality Shows – the lineup shows Brazilian creators leaning into the realities of Brazil, and often issues of race, gender and climate change.
Even in the Animation section, heavy on comedic fantasy adventures, the protagonists of “Formiga,” featuring a fantasy kite world, come from one of Brazil’s impoverished outer-city. Turning on the comedic adventures of a lively beetle and curious ladybug, “Pupupu Bibibi” pictures insects of the Amazon, which often seem straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Above all, multiple titles attempt to remember the half or totally forgotten. “Flora” imagines the thoughts and feelings of slave Flora Maria Blumer de Toledo, the first Black woman to become a member of Brazil’s Methodist Church.“Rogério Duprat: the Maestro (Beyond) Tropicalia” and “Tomorrow, Under the Sun” recuperate the extraordinary artistic figures of composer Rogério Duprat and murdered photographer Alair Gomes.
Fictional miniseries “Clandestine” relives the most memorable moments in the life of Brazilian guerrilla fighter Iara Iavelberg, murdered by Brazil’s military regime in 1971.
“Of all the forms of violence shown in the film, the biggest of them is the system created to extinguish memory of Brazil’s Black people and the responsibility for the acts committed,” director Beto Oliveira says of “Flora.”
“More than a cinebiography, ‘Clandestine’ is a political and artistic gesture of reparation — a tribute to a woman that Brazil needs to know better,” Frederico told Variety.
The Industry Pitching titles:
“Flora,” (Frame 7 Cinema)
A fiction feature take on the life of Flora Maria Blumer de Toledo (1833-1892), freed from slavery in 1881 by U.S. Protestant missionary Martha Watts who, in helmer Beto Oliveira’s take, questions whether emancipation gives her true freedom. Scheduled for a November premiere, from Frame 7 Cinema, an attempt to counter the erasure of Brazil’s Black population from history and a follow-up to Oliveira’s doc-feature “Forgetting Flora.”
“blackhumor.com” (Universo HUP)
A dramedic web series unspooling as a fascist government consolidates in Brazil, Black college students launch a comedy web series channel of resistance while still finding space for relationships and self-discovery. Channel segs include sketches, standup and a joke duel. From Universe HUP, formerly founded in 2023 and rating as a Santa Catarina Federal U.from last year.
“Their Story,” (“A História Delas”)
Coming together to make a film Darlene, rich but directionless, and her writers are encouraged to think about female representation and rethink their lives. A comedy feature in development at Fagundes Produçãos,
“100% Trans Fat” (“100% Gordura Trans,” 502 Digital)
Backed by Rio-based 502 Digital and Paulo Gustavo funding via RioFilme 2023, an eight-part comedy series. Helô a young Black, plus-size trans woman, discovers her hidden talent, making people laugh, and, hitting Rio’s Rio’s underground comedy scene, that humor is a powerful tool against bigotry. A simpático TV comedy series from 502 Digital boss Henrique Freitas, a writer on kids pic “Luccas e Gi em: Dinossauros” and writer-director on short “Ecco Home,” just hitting the fest circuit.
“Clandestine, the Life of Iara Iavelberg,” (“Clandestina, a Vida de Ira Iavelberg,” Kinoscópio)
One of the big plays at the Pitchings, created by respected action movie/doc writer-directors Flavio Frederico and Mariana Pamplona (“São Paulo Heist”) at Kinoscópio, a TV series on the life and murder of Iara Iavelberg, a psychology graduate from São Paulo from a well-off family, lover of Marco Lamarca, and an icon of armed resistance to the military regime.
“The Missed Voice,” (“A Voz Que Ninguém Escutou,” Sarasvati)
After her mother’s suicide, Black journalist Vánia discovers her diary, detailing her torture under Brazil’s military dictatorship. Based on Renan Silva’s novel, winner of the 2024 Kindle Prize for Literature, a feature battling to reposition Brazil’s “poor, Black people, from the Northeast and women, as central characters in the history of Brazil.” In development.
Animation
“Becoming an Elf,” (“Como Virar um Elfo,” Ateliê Suburbano)
A magical coming of age series about how Joaquim becomes a wise elf, a comedic fantasy adventure receiving $400,000 from Paulo Gustavo Law Funding and distinguished by its catchy soundtrack, says Ateliê. Created by Ateliê creative director Rômulo Viera, targeting 7-11s, and now in production.
“Botija Hunters,” (“Caçadores de Botija,” Mold Studio)
Produced by Mold, based in Paraiba capital João Pessoa, using 2D cut out and frame-by-frame animation. Fearful Lina scours her village for clay pots, holding treasures but trapping ghosts. A humorous supernatural series enrolling Brazilian northeastern folklore from creator-director Denis Sabino, inspired by stories his grandmother used to tell him when he was a child.
“The Evil Son,” (“O Filho Man, Dogzilla Studio)
Inspired by Carol Sakura’s graphic novel, set in Brazil’s interior, the story of a family seemingly cursed by a history of violence. A 2D adult animation feature aimed at 16-year-olds and “a story of psychological and social horror,” says Sakura. In development, set up at Tortuga Studios, whose “Our Crazy Love” played Annecy’s Contrechamp last year, and Curitiba-based Dogzilla, which oversaw art direction on Netflix animation series “The Nutty Boy.”
“Formiga,” (Mono Animation)
From São Paulo studio and production house Mono, behind Globinho’s Annecy selected “Pipas” and Disney’s “Pilar’s Dairy.”An anime fantasy action adventure set in Kitekami, a world where kites come alive and two young friends from the outskirts, Naoki and Formiga, learn to deal with grief and goodbyes.
“Pupupu Bibibi,” (Lucas Peligrineti)
The comedic adventures of Pupupu, a lively beetle, and Bibibi, a curious ladybug, encountering in the forest hungry spiders, two-headed worms, and real insects – colorful, extraordinary – from the Amazon. “Fun, light-hearted, joyful, visually engaging,” says Peligrineti, a screenwriter, storyboarder and storyboard supervisor on “Jorel’s Brother” and “Wake Up, Carlo!” 2019 and 2024. Intl. Emmy nominees.
“Spoonful of Stars,” (“Cozinha das Estrellas,” Flamma)
Combining 2D and CGI and made for 3-5s, the story of three little shooting stars, named Ori, Bella and Zeta, who travel through outer space collecting magical ingredients in order to fulfil the wishes of children on planet Earth. Now in development, from Flamma founder Reynaldo Marchesini, Rio2C Kids Pitching organizer and artistic supervisor on “Sítio do Picapau Amarelo,” Globo’s first toon co-pro, with Mixer.
Documentaries
“Atafona: Submerged City” (Kailash Cine)
A doc feature in development charting the lives of the inhabitants of coastal town Atafona, just north of Rio de Janeiro, which is inexorably being swallowed by the sea. Kailash Cine (“Botafogo e Seus Herois Improvaveis”) produces.
“Joelma, the Towering Inferno,” (“Joelma, the Towering Inferno,” Confeiteria de Cinema)
In 1974, a terrible fire broke out in the Joelma Building in downtown São Paulo, killing 187 people. The series’ screenwriter and director, Rubens Rewald – whose father designed the building’s plumbing and electrical systems and was tried for the fire – tells the human stories and investigation of a symbol of a Brazil he argues, “marked by greed, impunity and precariousness.”
“Naná, a Griot Around the World,” (“Naná, Um Griot Pelo Mundo,” Muk)
A doc-feature on the career on Pernambuco-born Naná Vasconcelos. one of the world’s greatest percussionists and a nine times Grammy Award winner who connected the sound of Afro-Brazilian roots to global music. In development, written and to be directed by Patricia Palumbo and Alessandra Dorgan, creators of “Luiz Melodia – No Coração do Brasil.”
“Rogério Duprat: the Maestro (Beyond) Tropicália,” (“Rogério Duprat, O Maestro (Alem) da Tropicália,” Bravia Produçoes)
A doc-feature portrait of the groundbreaking Duprat whose soundscapes helped shape the Tropicália movement, with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and David Byrne testifying to his lasting legacy.
“Tomorrow, Under the Sun,” (“Amanha, No Sol,” Coopas)
Alair Gomes (1921-1992) was one of the pioneers of queer art in Brazil, best known for “Symphony of Erotic Icons,” capturing young male nude bodies with slight variations. This doc-feature revisits the places he shot at – Carnaval, the beaches of Ipanema – while searching for one of his models and detailing his work methods, evolution and murder. From Rio-based Coopas, behind Intl. Emmy Award-nominated “De Volta.”
Reality TV Shows
“Animals in Disaster,” (“Animais em Desastre, Frontera Filmes)
An action adventure series with volunteers in GRAD – the Animal Rescue Group in Disasters – braving floods, wildfires and collapses to save pets, wildlife and people in vulnerable situations.
“Are You Joking?” (Que Palhaçada É Essa”?, bigBonsai)
To save his family from monotony and hyperconnected life, a clown father André Carvalho decides to take them on a journey through the wonderful world of the circus. A series which builds on the success of “Que Palhaçada é Essa?” produced with HBO, which ran to two seasons. Produced by Deborah Osborn and Camila Machado’s bigBonsai (“The Book of Delights”) and billed as a comedic adventure docuseries.
“The Crime Game,” (“Crime em jogo,”Thais Costa Comunicaçao)
In a reality series competition, seven amateur investigators race against time to solve recreated real-life homicides, with limited access to evidence, interrogating actors playing family members, suspects, and witnesses and analyzing physical clues and forensic reports. “A format with strong franchise potential” for international editions, adapting historical crimes and specific cultural dynamics, say the producers.
“The Hustle Factor,” (“Um Leão Por Dia,” Baleial)
A 10-episode competitive investment reality show where eight entrepreneurs from underserved communities compete with help of mentors for financial support to boost their own businesses. Confirmed mentors include Diogo Roberte, founder of PicPay – one of Brazil’s biggest fintechs. From Felipe Berlinck, a former writer for Cartoon Network and creative director at O2 Filmes.
More to come….
English (US) ·