Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Jay Kelly’ Set for São Paulo

Netflix has chosen to bow four of its most highly anticipated titles at Brazil’s São Paulo International Film Festival – the Mostra SP – comprising Guillermo del Toro’s epic “Frankenstein,” Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” Shih-Ching Tsou’s “Left-Handed Girl” and Daniel Rezende’s “The Son of a Thousand Men,” starring Rodrigo Santoro.

“This is our strongest participation since we started our partnership with Mostra,” said Elisabetta Zenatti, VP of content for Brazil.

Remarking on the Mostra where “Frankenstein” stages its Brazilian premiere, Del Toro said: “The festival has this crazy, bold energy, embracing both the big names and emerging voices. It is a space that celebrates cinema in its full breadth and that resonates deeply with ‘Frankenstein,’ which is a story about reclaiming your identity – your ‘otherness.’ It is a very meaningful stage and I look forward to seeing how this film about Fathers and Sons connects with Brazilians.”

Meanwhile, “Jay Kelly” and “Left Handed Girl” will have their Latin American premieres at the Mostra. “Jay Kelly,” which had its world premiere at Venice, stars George Clooney who plays a famous movie actor, not unlike himself, as he seeks to find himself again, with his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) at his side.  

“Left Handed Girl,” co-written by Sean Baker (“Anora”), won the Gan Foundation Support for Distribution at Cannes’ Critics’ Week where it had its world premiere. It follows a single mother and her two daughters who move back to Taipei to start a stall in a busy night market. As they adjust to their new life, their bond is tested when their strict grandfather forbids the youngest daughter from using her left hand – uncovering hidden family secrets in the process.

“The Son of a Thousand Men” (“O Filho de Mil Homens”) will have its world premiere at the fest with the presence of Santoro and Rezende (“Bingo: The King of the Mornings”) who will participate in a round table with Higia Ikeda, head of films for Netflix Brazil, in a spotlight on Brazilian filmmaking and filmmakers. 

Based on the eponymous bestselling novel, this first-ever adaptation follows Crisóstomo (Santoro), a solitary fisherman who longs for a son. His life takes a turn when he takes in Camilo (Miguel Martines), a young orphan. Their path soon crosses with Isaura (Rebeca Jamir), who’s running from her own past, and Antonino (Johnny Massaro), a lonely outsider. Together, they discover the true meaning of family and connection.

“Brazilian cinema is constantly rebirthing itself. There has always been enormous vitality, generation after generation of filmmakers and now –  right now –  it is finding new voices, new ways of engaging with the world without losing its unique cultural roots, and this is being increasingly recognized all over the world,” said Del Toro, adding, “I feel Brazil is regaining a role – it’s becoming a protagonist again in the global cinema conversation: Brazilian film is and has always been- diverse, political, poetic and profoundly human.”

Netflix is also underscoring its support for Brazil’s film industry with the Netflix Award, now on its third edition, which will be presented to an independent Brazilian film. “By valuing Brazilian cinema, we open doors for our talent and share our stories with the world, which in turn strengthens the whole national audiovisual ecosystem,” said Zenatti.

Created to elevate Brazilian cinema on the global stage, this initiative highlights the country’s most original voices in fiction filmmaking. Each year, a jury made up of Netflix execs and invited guests selects one Brazilian fiction film from the festival that hasn’t yet landed a streaming deal.

Netflix then acquires the distribution rights, making the winning film available in over 190 countries. By opening international doors for both new and established filmmakers, the award strengthens Netflix’s support for the creative community and boosts the global reach of Brazilian storytelling. 

Previous winners include Haroldo Borges’ “Bittersweet Rain” in 2023 and Lírio Ferreira’s “Serra das Almas” in 2024.

Netflix first participated in the Mostra in 2018 with Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma. 2025 marks, however, its third of official partnership. In 2023, it gave its Netflix award to “Bittersweet Rain” (“Saudade Fez Morada Aqui Dentro”) and staged the Brazilian premiere of Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro.”

In 2024, Netflix brought to the Mostra three original productions: U.S. title “Piano Lesson,” México’s “Pedro Páramo” and Brazilian limited series “Children of the Church Steps.” 

“Brazilian independent cinema has always relied on word of mouth to reach audiences. Having ‘Saudade Fez Morada Aqui Dentro’ on Netflix makes that word of mouth possible,” said Borges, director of “Bittersweet Rain.”

As a Brazilian Northeastern [a region not typically depicted in movies that travel outside of Brazil], it’s inspiring to see our accent, our landscapes, our way of life on screens around the world. It fuels the desire to make more films and take up space on screens,” he added. 

“Since the film premiered on Netflix, international consumption has led to several interesting moments,” he went on. “An edited cut from the film became a trend on social media with millions of views and interactions. [Actress] Wilma Macedo received countless love notes from fans in Turkey. The French actor who dubbed Ronny [actor Ronnaldy Gomes] went on social media after the film’s success in France to present himself, and he and Ronny actually became friends after that. We’ve received thousands of heartfelt messages. It’s genuine joy to to feel represented and seen. In the film, we show a diverse sertão, full of our music styles – like piseiro, paredão, forró. It’s the pure essence of Bahia’s sertão.”

John Hopewell contributed to this article.