Brazil Film Fest returns to Canada once again. This year’s edition features 13 films that offer a portrait of recent Brazilian productions, with presentations in Toronto and Montreal.
- TORONTO: November 24 to 26 — TIFF Bel Lighth box
350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5 - MONTREAL: December 1 to 7 — Cinema Du Parc
3575 Park Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3P9
The anticipation is palpable as the Brazil Film Fest Toronto gears up for its much-awaited return to the iconic TIFF Bell Lightbox, marking a triumphant shift from the virtual realm back to in-person festivities after navigating through the challenges of the pandemic.
A longstanding partnership between the Brazil Film Fest and TIFF Bell Lightbox has been fostering cinematic excellence since 2013, creating an immersive experience for film enthusiasts. This year’s edition promises to be particularly special, featuring 13 captivating films that offer a snapshot of recent Brazilian productions.
Adding to the excitement is the presence of esteemed ambassador Wanja Campos da Nóbrega, whose visionary leadership played a pivotal role in initiating this edition of this festival.
Kicking off the season on November 24, 2023, is the screening of the impactful film Elis & Tom, directed by Roberto de Oliveira and Jom Tob Azulay. This musical documentary, using exceptional archive footage, unfolds the story behind the creation of the 1974 album “Elis & Tom,” a monumental tribute to Brazilian music.
The festival’s grand finale is equally enchanting, with the screening of The Long Rider, a horseback epic directed by Sean Cisterna. Audiences can look forward to welcoming the film’s team and cast, adding an extra layer of excitement to the closing night.
The Brazil Film Fest Toronto prides itself on offering a diverse selection of fiction and documentaries, each telling a unique story. One standout is Our Dream: The Story of Claudinho and Buchecha, recently released in cinemas and already capturing the hearts of over 470,000 viewers.
Executive Director Katia Adler expresses the festival’s enthusiasm for this year’s lineup, assuring audiences that the collection of titles is sure to resonate. “We have an incredibly diverse collection of titles, and we are sure you will love them. Come and discover more about Brazil, its people, landscapes, and culture. Come to feel the sun, the breeze… and have a great time!”
As the Brazil Film Fest Toronto opens its doors, it invites movie-lovers to immerse themselves in the richness of Brazilian cinema and explore the vibrant narratives that showcase the beauty of Brazil’s people, landscapes, and culture.
FILMS‘ SUMMARY
ELIS & TOM
Elis & Tom is considered one of the most important albums in the history
of Brazilian music. The recording took place in Los Angeles, in early 1974,
and it was all captured by the team of filmmakers led by director Roberto
de Oliveira, who arranged for the duo to meet. (Documentary) — READ MORE
THE LONG RIDER
When Filipe Masetti Leite leaves his adoptive home of Canada, he sets
out on an epic quest to ride from Calgary to his family’s home in Brazil –
and later beyond – entirely on horseback. (Documentary) — READ MORE
SUSPENSION POINTS
André is a young doctor who, upon returning to Brazil after more than a
year caring for the sick and injured in a Doctors Without Borders camp,
discovers that he had exchanged love letters not with his girlfriend, Beta,
but with her sister, Dani. (Fiction) — READ MORE
RED MONET
Johannes Van Almeida is a painter of women who are not accepted in
the market. With his vision deteriorating and on the verge of a nervous
breakdown, he finds in a famous actress in crisis the inspiration ro make
his masterpiece. (Fiction) — READ MORE
PALOMA
On a hot summer day, Paloma decides to fulfil her most cherished
dream : a traditional wedding in a church with her boyfriend Zé. This
decision leads her to suffer violence, betrayal, prejudice and injustice but
nothing shakes the faith and determination of this transgender woman. (Fiction) — READ MORE
MÔA, MOTHER AFRICA ROOTS
The documentary tells and sings the story of Môa do Katendê, an
important and polyphonic educator of Afro-Brazilian culture who did not
have the recognition he deserved. (Documentary) — READ MORE
THE HIJACKING OF FLIGHT 375
Brazil, September 29, 1988, the VASP 737 airplane departs from the
Confins International Airport. On board were 103 passengers, including
Raimundo Nonato Alves de Conceição, an unemployed tractor driver
who hijacks flight 375, and orders commander Murilo to crash the plane
to kill the president. (Fiction) — READ MORE
PÉROLA
Murilo Benício’s second feature film is a dreamed based on one of the
greatest hits of Brazilian theatre, under the form of a reunion between
mother and son : their conflicts, conversations, and dreams of a
better life all converge in the construction of a swimming pool in their
backyard. (Fiction) — READ MORE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Set in a dystopian near future in Rio de Janeiro, a lawyer sues the
Brazilian government for reparation of all descendants of African
slaves in the country. The authoritarian regime responds by signing an
executive order forcing all black citizens to move to Africa. (Fiction) — READ MORE
THREE SUMMERS
Over a trio of summers, a caretaker for luxury condominiums relies on
her resourcefulness and her eye for opportunity to take advantage of
whatever comes her way. (Fiction) — READ MORE
ANDANÇA WITH BETH CARVALHO
Beth Carvalho was one of the greatest samba singers in Brazil, helping
to reveal great names and revitalise the music genre. The documentary
images are part of a vast collection of images shot by Beth Carvalho
herself, in order to trace a unique, intimate profile of the career and life of
this unique figure of Brazilian culture. (Documentary) — READ MORE
EDUARDO AND MONICA
Can the romance between a sophisticated medical student and a
run-of-the-mill high schooler work out ? The actors Alice Braga and
Gabriel Leone bring to life a couple that must overcome their significant
differences to live a great love in 1980’s Brasilia. (Fiction) — READ MORE
OUR DREAM – THE STORY OF CLAUDINHO AND BUCHECHA
The film is a biography of Claudinho and Buchecha, the most successful
duo of national melody funk in all times and the greatest icon of the
genre in Brazilian popular music. (Fiction-biography) — READ MORE
