The burgeoning Brazilian film community receives a red-carpet welcome in America as an annual festival marks its 16th year in South Florida. The Brazilian Film Festival of Miami, hosted by international events and production company Inffinito, once again will introduce U.S. audiences to a variety of established and emerging filmmakers.
The festival, which runs from Aug. 18 to Aug. 25, includes competitive screenings in a variety of styles and lengths, as well as a special documentary series. Each movie is making its Miami debut—and many are being shown to an international audience for the first time. The lineup, all presented with English subtitles, represents the best of the most recent slate of Brazilian-produced films and is intended for all audiences.
This year’s weeklong event kicks off Aug. 18 with the 8:30 p.m. screening of the award-winning “The Clown,” by Selton Melo. The New World Symphony (500 17th St., Miami Beach) will host this free event, which is open to the general public.
Starting the following night, Aug. 19, Miami Beach Cinematheque (1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) will play host to six consecutive evenings of documentary screenings. Several of the offerings pay homage to Brazilian music, including “Jorge Mautner: The Son of the Holocaust,” directed by Pedro Bial and Heitor D’Alincourt (Aug. 21); “Heart of Samba,” by Thereza Jessouroun (Aug. 19); and “Rock Brasilia,” by Vladimir Carvalho (Aug. 20).
The competitive screenings, which take place between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25, include feature-length and short films shown at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach). The one documentary in the mix, “Raul,” directed by Walter Carvalho (Aug. 24), continues the musical thread by detailing the life of Brazilian rock icon Raul Sexias.
Among the feature movie highlights: The comedy “Did You Score?” directed by Felipe Joffily (Aug. 22); the street-gang drama “Captains of the Sand,” by Cecelia Amado (Aug. 23); and the action-thriller “Two Birds,” by Afonso Poyart (Aug. 24). Cao Hamburguer’s “Xingu” will close the festival Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. at the Colony Theater. Seven short films also will be shown at the Colony.
The curatorial team at this year’s event includes Paula Barreto and Clélia Bessa (producers), Maria Arlete Gonçalves (director of “Oi Futuro”), Ruth Albuquerque (producer), and Jorge Peregrino (former Senior VP of Latin America and Caribbean at Paramount Pictures International).
Tickets for all Brazilian Film Festival of Miami shows at the Colony Theatre can be purchased at the cinema or online through www.ticketmaster for only $10 per film. Tickets are available online until 4 p.m. on the day of the show; after that, tickets are only available at the theater. Seats are limited and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.
A limited number of $150 VIP passes and $100 Festival Fans will be available through Ticketmaster and also at 305/600-3347. VIP passes grant access to all festival films as well as special events and after-parties at Bâoli-Miami, Viscayne and Shore Club Hotel.