59th Festival de Brasília do Cinema Brasileiro

The 59th Festival de Brasília do Cinema Brasileiro highlighted technological advancements and diverse storytelling, featuring a virtual reality showcase titled ‘Realidade Virtual: Imersão em Persona’ and animated works like ‘Ana, en Passant’. This edition of the country’s longest-running film festival saw a record 2,000 entries, with over 70 films selected.

At the conclusion of the festival, André Novais Oliveira’s ‘Se Eu Fosse Vivo... Vivia’ received the Candango Award for Best Feature Film, alongside awards for Best Screenplay and Best Costume. Set in 1970s Minas Gerais, the film follows a couple, Gilberto and Jacira, and earned honorable mentions for writer Conceição Evaristo and actor Norberto Novais Oliveira.

Other significant winners included Daniel Nolasco’s ‘Pequenas Tragédias’, which earned multiple awards, and the short film ‘Cana’, directed by Daniel Rone and Guilherme Xavier Ribeiro. ‘Cana’ emerged as the most awarded short film of the edition, securing five awards including the Candango for Best Short Film from the Official Jury, the Abraccine Critics' Award, the Canal Brasil Short Film Award, Best Actor for Gerin Black, and Best Soundtrack. The film, produced by Oeste Cinema, explores themes of youth, racism, and social landscapes in Western São Paulo.

In the feature film competition, the documentary ‘Tudo É Tempo’ by Marcos Guttmann was named Best Feature Film by the popular jury. The film examines shifts in Brazilian life over a 20-year period starting from the 2002 elections. Additionally, the festival hosted discussions on indigenous female filmmakers and presented publications regarding indigenous participation in the audiovisual market. Within the ‘Mostra Brasília’ segment, Marisa Mendonça’s ‘Onde Moram os Irmãos’ was named Best Feature Film by both the official and popular juries.