Brazil expands school cinema program and launches free independent film workshops

The Maranhão State Department of Education (Seduc) has started a new phase of its Cinema na Escola project, bringing audiovisual training to seven municipalities—Teresina, Parnaíba, Floriano, Picos, Bom Jesus, Campo Maior and Amarante. More than 200 secondary‑school students will complete a 120‑hour curriculum covering scriptwriting, direction, cinematography, production and post‑production, with the goal of strengthening audiovisual skills and fostering creative expression. Participants reported increased interest, with one student saying, “I liked the explanations of the professionals and felt part of a cinema production team.”

In Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, the Cineclube CALM (Centro Audiovisual Luiz Marchetti) is running a series of free screenings, panels and workshops for independent‑film creators, researchers and students. The programme is funded by the state’s Secretariat of Culture, Sport and Leisure under the Aldir Blanc national policy and includes accessible sessions for deaf and blind audiences. Highlights feature talks by artist Amanda Homem, colorist Marcelo Sant’Anna, filmmaker Juliana Segóvia on “Cinema Negro,” and a closing documentary by Uri Bezerra. Organizer Luiz Marchetti emphasized the initiative’s purpose: “It’s not enough to watch a film; the important thing is to meet creators and exchange ideas.”