Festival Guarnicê de Cinema begins 49th edition in São Luís

The 49th edition of the Festival Guarnicê de Cinema begins on August 20 in São Luís, Maranhão. As the fourth oldest film festival in Brazil and the longest-running uninterrupted event in the North and Northeast regions, the festival aims to promote independent Brazilian audiovisual production.

Organized by the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), this year’s theme is ‘Encontro com Narrativas Humanas’ (Meeting with Human Narratives). The selection includes approximately 150 works chosen from over 1,400 entries, covering diverse genres such as documentaries, fiction, animation, and experimental films. The programming addresses themes including identity, territory, indigenous issues, and social inequalities.

In addition to film screenings, the event features workshops, debates, seminars, and a digital games showcase. The festival will pay tribute to actress Marcélia Cartaxo, actor Romulo Estrela, and filmmaker Frederico Machado. Screenings are available at Cinépolis São Luís Shopping and Cinema Sesc Deodoro, with digital access provided via the Guarnicê platform and app.