France and Brazil Took Centre Stage on Day One Vive la France! Brazil and France took centre stage on the opening day of Festival do Rio and RioMarket on Thursday, 3 October
France and Brazil took centre stage on the opening day of Festival do Rio and RioMarket on Thursday, 3 October.
The festival’s opening gala screening at the Cine Odeon on 3 October was the Latin American premiere of French director Jacques Audiard's “Emilia Pérez”, winner of two prizes in Cannes this year, including the Jury Prize and the prize for the best performance by an actress for its quartet of stars; Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz. Paris Filmes will release the musical thriller in Brazilian cinemas on 6 February 2025, a film that has already been chosen by France to represent the country at the Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. It was the first of a considerable number of French productions that are screening during this year’s festival.
Earlier on Thursday saw the official signing of a new Brazil x France agreement of audiovisual cooperation. Among those present at the signing were Margareth Menezes, Brazil’s Minister of Culture; and from France, Jérémie Kessler, Director of European and International Affairs at the Centre National du Cinéma et de L'image Animée (CNC); as well as government and diplomatic delegations from both France and Brazil. Brazil Minister of Culture also addressed the opening night gala the officially opened the festival.
The ceremony took place at Armazém da Utopia, the headquarters of the Festival and RioMarket. The agreement is part of the actions of the Year of France in Brazil and Brazil in France in 2025, and the aim of the agreement will be to promote and expand cultural exchange between Brazil and France in the areas of cinema and audiovisual through the implementation of bilateral initiatives, such as actions for the preservation, conservation, restoration and dissemination of films and series.
Signing are Margareth Menezes, Brazil’s Minister of Culture, and for France, Jérémie Kessler, Director of European and International Affairs at the Centre National du Cinéma et de L'image Animée (CNC). Photo: Cláudio Andrade
Later in the day, representatives of France and Brazil met to discuss how to promote the export of audiovisual content in the streaming era. The talk explored new market dynamics, addressing how international partnerships, especially with Europe, can create new opportunities for Brazilian productions. The panel also discussed how the financing and distribution of these productions, supported by co-production agreements, can strengthen the presence of Brazilian content on global streaming platforms.
Voltar
