RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Projeto Paradiso, a philanthropic initiative supporting the Brazilian film sector from the Olga Rabinovich Institute, and Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism Board, are joining forces to launch an initiative to promote the international distribution of films made in the leading South American country. The program, titled ScreenBrasil with a pointed “s,” will offer support to the distribution of three national feature fiction films produced in 2024 and 2025.
The initiative, which aims to strengthen the country’s image abroad and attract foreign industry by promoting the Brazilian film industry, is the result of a Technical and Financial Cooperation Agreement between the two organizations. The announcement of the partnership will take place during the Rio Film Festival’s industry arm RioMarket on Oct. 6. On Oct. 22, the regulations will be presented in further detail during the opening of the Encontro de Ideias at the São Paulo International Film Festival.
The announcement of the selected films is scheduled for April 2026, following the submission period that runs from January to March. The selected films will each receive US$15,000 for international distribution. These funds can be used for subtitling, international marketing, press relations, and other promotional and distribution initiatives. A specialized technical committee will be assembled to pick the participating films.
Embratur president Marcelo Freixo pointed out ScreenBrasil is “part of the Agency’s strategy of acknowledging the audiovisual industry as a tool for international tourism promotion.”
“This project is the culmination of a strategy initiated during our tenure at Embratur, which recognizes the audiovisual industry as a strategic vector for promoting Brazil internationally,” he added. “We understand that films, series, documentaries and other audiovisual products can work as powerful showcases of the best our country has to offer and spark interest in experiencing Brazil in person.”
Freixo pointed out that the initiative “seeks to reach international audiences with works that highlight our quality and cinematic talent and portray our stories, diversity, and creativity,” emphasizing how Brazil is “currently experiencing a period of great visibility for its cinema abroad.”
“We also have examples of countries such as Spain, Portuga and South Korea, that have established the audiovisual industry as a key strategic sector to promote their soft power. More than that, studies show that approximately 80 million tourists from around the world choose destinations influenced by audiovisual productions,” added the Embratur president.
Ahead of this year’s Rio Film Festival kick-off, Variety spoke with Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, who echoed Freixo in praising Brazil’s great moment for cinema while pointing out how Rio is currently one of the most popular cities in the world for film. According to the Rio Film Commission, Rio hosted a record 8,782 days of filming for 505 productions in 2024. Of the 505, it said, 27 were international productions, accounting for 748 filming days, a 100% uptick over 2023. This year’s Rio Film Festival also features a record-breaking number of Brazilian films, a whopping 124 productions, including features and shorts, in addition to the premieres of four TV series.
Projeto Paradiso has made investing in international exhibition a core strategic priority. “Since 2019, we’ve offered support to the presence of more than 150 films and projects in major festivals and international markets through the Brasil no Mundo (Brazil in the World) program,” said Rachel do Valle, program director at the philanthropic institution. “Now, we’re taking a step forward, seeking to broaden the release windows for Brazilian productions around the world. Our goal is to expand the possibilities for international audiences to connect with Brazilian cinema, thus strengthening our industry.”
