Brazil’s Film Revolution: Exclusive Inside Look at Game-Changing Initiative with Hubert Bals Fund

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In a significant step and headline-grabbing news from Brazil as it receives recognition as its Country of Honor at Cannes, the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund is partnering with three prominent Brazilian film promotion organizations – Spcine, RioFilme, Projeto Paradiso – to initiate HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support. This partnership aims to provide joint development assistance for films in Brazil.

The innovative collaborative initiative focuses on nurturing emerging filmmakers based in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and other parts of Brazil, by fostering their initial project ventures.

During the inaugural phase of a three-year program, HBF+Brazil will aid up to nine emerging Brazilian fiction film projects in their initial stages, with a Brazilian director and Brazilian production company involved. Each selected project will receive €10,000 ($11,300) in funding.

Or simply:

In the first year of a three-year scheme, HBF+Brazil is offering support to up to nine Brazilian filmmakers working on fiction projects, providing €10,000 ($11,300) for each project they choose.

Starting from mid-year 2025, HBF will initiate the submission process for projects on IFFR.com as the management partner. In contrast, HBF in partnership with Brazil will pen an agreement during the Cannes Film Festival.

The initiative aims to financially back and globally promote exceptional, creative, and culturally impactful narratives in cinema from Brazil, nurturing international cooperation and collaborations, as indicated by the partners on Monday.

The software will leverage the extensive local expertise of two leading audiovisual agencies endorsed by City Hall, namely São Paulo’s Spcine and Rio de Janeiro’s RioFilme, which are situated at major film production centers across Brazil. These organizations have previously implemented groundbreaking cash rebate programs for both international and domestic film productions in their respective cities.

The Hubert Bals Fund and the Brazilian philanthropic organization Projeto Paradiso, both renowned for their work in film development, are among the leading specialists not just in Europe but also in Latin America when it comes to nurturing young talent. These organizations play a significant role in stimulating creativity within Brazil’s artistic community.

HBF (Hubert Bals Fund) and Projeto Paradiso have formed a tight partnership, releasing jointly in October “Development With Impact”. This collaborative piece was showcased during an Impact Day at the São Paulo Film Festival. In this publication, Tamara Tatishvili, director of HBF, and Joséphine Bourgois, executive director of Projeto Paradiso, emphasized the immediate requirement for funding in development projects.

Established in honor of IFFR’s founder, since the late ’80s, the Hubert Bals Fund and Cinemart have led the way in providing project support for filmmakers hailing from emerging cinematic industries across the globe. These initiatives have served as models that many international festivals have successfully emulated.

At present, Brazilian filmmakers are unable to access federal funds for development. However, the HBF (High-Value Film Fund) has been aiding filmmakers globally, and Brazil is one of its key focuses. This marks the debut of HBF’s concentrated focus on a specific country, Brazil, with the aim of creating a replicable model that can be expanded to other regions in the future.

Our bond with Brazil is strong – it’s a country we’ve backed more than any other nation during our 35-year journey. Several prominent filmmakers from Brazil, such as Kleber Mendonça Filho, Marcelo Gomes, Gabriel Mascaro, and Julia de Simone, have received crucial assistance from HBF at pivotal points in their careers, according to Vanja Kalujdercic, the director of IFFR festival, and Tatishvili.

This fresh endeavor will continue our tradition with influential community partners who offer crucial local insights and assets, as well as faith in the HBF’s experience in funding development. We are united by a common goal to foster innovative collaboration and make a substantial impact on Brazil’s indie film industry.

“Lyara Oliveira, Spcine’s president, stated that this collaboration with the Hubert Bals Fund underscores Spcine’s dedication to showcasing São Paulo’s audiovisual industry on a global scale. This venture broadens the exposure of our creative talents and links São Paulo with international networks for creation and growth. It aligns with our plan for international expansion and boosting the local industry.”

RioFilm is thrilled to make this significant stride in collaboration with the Hubert Bals Fund and our national partners,” said Leonardo Edde, president of RioFilm. “This project isn’t just about nurturing new talent but also reinforcing the impressive cinematic heritage of Rio de Janeiro. We view this as a strategic step to broaden international co-production opportunities and solidify Rio’s status as a global hub for creative filmmaking.

According to Projeto Paradiso’s Bourgois, “this project is an extension of our five-year collaboration with Hubert Bals Fund. We are excited to bring together two prominent Brazilian public funds and a globally recognized institution for this groundbreaking initiative. This endeavor aligns with the development-focused mission that Projeto Paradiso has upheld since its inception.

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2025-05-12 10:09