‘Queen of the South’s’ Alice Braga, ‘3%’s’ Bianca Comparato Launch South With Gabriela Amaral Almeida’s ‘She, Crocodile’ (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a passion for discovering new talents and unique narratives, I am thrilled to witness the birth of South, a production label that brings together the creative forces of Alice Braga and Bianca Comparato. With their roots deeply embedded in the rich cultural soil of Brazil and their reach extending to the bustling cities of Los Angeles and New York, this dynamic duo is poised to revolutionize the global film industry.


Actors Alice Braga (“Queen of the South”) and Bianca Comparato (“3%”) have teamed up to create a new production company called South. Based in Los Angeles, New York, and São Paulo, this company was founded with financial backing from FLAGCX, the largest independent creative services provider in Latin America.

In the upcoming 12th edition of the San Sebastian Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, scheduled for September 25-27, South will introduce its premier full-length production, “She, Crocodile,” a chilling body-horror tale directed by Gabriela Amaral Almeida.

Titled “She, Crocodile,” this chilling tale is about a young woman who inherits a luxury real estate firm in Rio de Janeiro and gradually metamorphoses into the story’s titular creature. The screenplay for this intriguing project received financial support from the MacDowell Institute Residency program, during which Amaral developed a comprehensive 50-page outline for the film.

Drawing from my personal creative journey as a filmmaker, I’ve found that “She, Crocodile” was born out of an urgent desire to explore themes of capitalism and women’s issues through the lens of violence. This project serves as my passionate tribute to body horror, the works of David Cronenberg and Douglas Sirk, blending elements of gore, viscera, and emotion.

Vitrine Filmes will distribute “She, Crocodile” in Brazil.

Beyond funding the movie under their latest production company, Amaral and Braga will take on the roles of executive producers. Meanwhile, Comparato will not only act in the film but also produce it together with Yana Chang, who is known for her work on “The Cambridge Squatter”.

While conversing with EbMaster, Comparato clarified, “This film embodies empowerment via body horror, making it an ideal choice for amplifying the unique voice of Gabriela Amaral Almeida from the global south.”

When discussing the broader aims of the South team, the versatile individual stated, “Entertainment has the power to provide insights into complex matters using symbolism and storytelling. It might help us better understand problems that affect us all.”

Alongside Amaral’s project, South is currently developing several upcoming productions. These include a short film by Luiz Bolognesi titled “Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury”, as well as works from Renata Tupinambá (“Historias (Im)possíveis”) and Graciela Guarani (“My Blood is Red”). These productions are set to be filmed in the Amazon next month. Additionally, there’s a new feature film in the pipeline from Renee Messora and João Salaviza, who have previously worked on “The Buriti Flower” and “The Dead and the Others”. Furthermore, South is collaborating with Brazilian giant Gullane Entertainment on a docuseries. Lastly, an action-thriller is being made by Gandja Monteiro, known for directing two episodes of Netflix’s “Wednesday.”

Additionally, South has obtained the movie rights for various Brazilian books it intends to transform into films, such as “Diorama” penned by Carol Bensimon, “The Sound of the Jaguar’s Roar” authored by Micheliny Verunschk, “Palimpsesto” written by Elvira Vigna, and “Gótico Nordestino” penned by Christiano Aguiar.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that renowned label is actively working on the debut projects of two promising newcomers – Thatiana Almeida and Thales Banzai. These upcoming directors have caught my attention, and I can’t wait to see their first features unfold on the big screen!

“Comparato and Braga stated that we focus on a variety of content that appeals to both audiences and critics. By blending our talents, specialized knowledge, innovative technology, and forward-thinking business acumen, we strive to surpass the industry’s standards while preserving the agility and inventiveness essential for our projects.”

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but be captivated by the notion that stories hold immense power in today’s world. The vision shared by Comparato and Braga, my fellow advocates, to harness this power for inspiring transformation truly ignited a spark within me. In my role as CEO of FLAGCX and partner at South, I stand united with them in this noble pursuit.

South is repped by WME in the U.S.

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2024-08-12 21:47