Do you think of yourselves as true documentary fans? Do you know what new films are in the spotlight at world festivals and what directing talents shouldn’t escape your attention? Do you have the same ready answer in case of Latin America? Take a trip beyond the borders of documentary; at least the European one; and meet the latest Brazilian films from the past two years. The greatest Latin American documentary feast, É Tudo Verdade festival, has a premiere at the global online cinema at DAFilms.com! Make yourself comfortable and watch us from August 25 to 31 for free!
Since 1995, the sunny April days are dedicated to the celebration of global and local documentary films in five Brazil cities, including the most populated metropolises Brasília, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The festival days as well as the lively life of Brazilian documentary are powered by the creative vision of the festival founder and director Amir Labaki, author of books on film and experienced director. Under his guidance, the originally regional festival has turned into an international film event attracting the attention of the whole of Latin America. The ten categories which now represent the basic framework of the festival programme embrace both local and international competition films, short documentaries, Brazilian as well as international retrospectives and special programmes dealing with the themes and problems of contemporary society. Read our exclusive interview with the festival director to learn more about the festival’s organization and its annual offer of Brazilian documentaries.
In the week from August 25 to 31, DAFilms.com brings you a programme “test sample” after which you will become addicted to Brazilian documentary! In OUR STORIES, OURSELVES, experienced directors David Meyer and Helena Solberg follow a unique life moment which has brought together 66 teenagers for several weeks. The focal point of their story is the documentation of the art project by choreographer Ivaldo Bertazzo, who has created a dance opus for over 60 young non-dancers, citizens of Rio de Janeiro’s Favela de Maré, a district globally infamous for its high degree of poverty and criminality. Did the encounter with art change the life of local children? Ten years later, the directors are searching for answers directly with the project participants.
The critical social situation, alarmingly endangering the life of the youngest generation of Brazilian megalopolises, frames the film by director Cristian Burlan. as well. However, it takes us much deeper, into the very core of the tragic story of the director’s family. In his documentary THEY KILLED MY BROTHER, he is reconstructing the moments of the life and death of his brother who became a victim of street violence at the age of 22, coping with the images of drug dealing, car theft and 7 gunshots related to the death of his brother.
The last of the three films, 20 CENTS (20 centimes), shifts the process of documentary mapping from an individual depiction of the harsh life reality to a wider horizon of contemporary Brazilian society. The film captures the rising surge of mass protests which have flooded the streets of blazing São Paulo in June 2013. Citizens protesting the increase in the cost of public transport were joined by activists, political opposition and extremist groups. Rather observing than evaluating the turbulent events, the film offers a strong social account of shared motivations and differences which can crystallize into a massive event under the weight of suppressed dissatisfaction at a certain place and time.
As icing on the cake, we have acquired a fourth addition to the exceptional Brazilian selection for you which will definitely broaden your horizons; towards art and beyond the facades of high-rise buildings. GREY CITY presents the works by leading local graffiti legends; the brother tandem Os Gemeos whose legal and illegal works have decorated several continents. What will be the outcome of their confrontation with the administration of their native and beloved city of São Paulo which has decided to fight “visual smog“ in the streets by repainting the city facades with a neutral grey colour? What will win; public expression or public interest? Watch online for free until Sunday!
Join us on our trip beyond the horizon of common European documentary days and enter the fresh land of Brazilian cinema you won’t ever want to leave!
DAFilms.com is powered by Doc Alliance, a creative partnership of 7 key European documentary film festivals. Our aim is to advance the documentary genre, support its diversity and promote quality creative documentary films.
