Brazil

Brazil

8Th BRAZIL FILM FESTIVAL IN TORONTO: A WARM TROPICAL WAVE TAKES OVER TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

By Leila Monteiro Lins

The Brazilian film industry is changing at a fast and furious pace, bringing to the big screen more universal plots and topics, while still keeping a unique tropical taste to its growing number of productions, and the 8Th Brazil Film Fest reflects this by showcasing 11 recent works handpicked by Katia Adler, the executive director of three Brazilian film festivals — in Toronto, Montreal and Paris.

“Our selection for this year brings to Toronto a well crafted psychological thriller; 3 comedies that were big hits at the Brazilian box office; a sweet coming of age gay story — which will be Brazil’s entry for the 2015 Oscars; a documentary about Sebastiao Salgado, one of the most successful and acclaimed photographers of the world; a history film about the suicide of a Brazilian president… I mean, we have a really great range of titles. This may be one of the best festivals we ever had,” said Ms. Adler.

The 8Th BRAZIL FILM FEST is happening from November 27th to November 30th at TIFF Bell Lightbox

November 27th – Thursday

7 pm –Getulio

by Joao Jardim

Brazil | 2014 | 100 min | Biographical Drama

A chronicle of the last days of Getúlio Vargas, president of Brazil in 1954, who killed himself with a bullet to his head after 19 days of political crisis and pressure.

November 28th – Friday

6 pm – Time and the Wind

by Jayme Monjardim

Brazil | 2013 | 115 min | Drama

An epic drama based on a series of novels written by Brazilian author Erico Verissimo. It follows 150 years of history and rivalry between two families in the extreme South of Brazil, the Terra Cambará and the Amarals.

8:45 pm – Casa Grande or the Ballad of Poor Jean

by Felipe Barbosa

Brazil | 2014 | 117 min | Colour | Drama

“Precariously balanced social structures maintaining class, race and expectations come crashing down in ‘Casa Grande’, Felipe Barbosa’s well-made feature debut, which dissects a privileged family’s struggle to maintain their lifestyle in an affluent Rio neighborhood.” Variety

November 29th – Saturday

2 pm – My Mom is a Character

by André Pellenz

Brazil | 2013 | 84 min | Colour | Comedy

Paulo Gustavo is a gay Brazilian comedian who has an unbelievably crazy and funny mother in real life. He wrote the script and plays his mother in My Mom is a Character. This laugh out loud movie was the biggest hit at the box office in Brazil last year.

4:30 pm – Meeting Sebastiao Salgado

by Betse de Paula

Brazil | 2012 | 75 min | Documentary

Part activist, part photographer, but 100% globe trekker, Brazilian economist turned artist Sebastiao Salgado revisits his adventurous career via the images he captured.

6:30 pm – S.O.S. Women Overboard

by Cris D’Amato

Brazil | 2014 | 94 min | Colour | Comedy

Adriana wants her ex-husband back and is ready to sabotage his honeymoon with a TV starlet. An unforgettable romantic comedy with scenes in Rome, Venice and Rio.

9 pm – The Way He Looks

by Daniel Ribeiro

Brazil | 2014 | 95 min | Colour | Drama

A fun and tender story about friendship and the complications of young love. Leo is a blind teenager fed up with his overprotective mother and the bullies at school, who suddenly finds himself falling in love with another guy.

November 30th – Sunday

1:30 pm – Black and White Democracy

by Pedro Asbeg

Brazil | 2014 | 90 min | Documentary

In the mid-1980s, Brazilians were fighting to get back their right to vote after decades of a dictatorship, rock bands were getting in on the act, and the Corinthians Football Club developed into a revolutionary movement for change. They pressured for self-management of their club, and with t-shirts and banners, urged Brazilians to fight for their right to democracy.

3:45 pm — Samba Ladies

by Susanna Lira

Brazil | 2013 | 75 min | Documentary

Samba Ladies exposes samba’s invisible woman-centered foundation. Hard working women were active in samba’s history as composers, organizers, dancers, singers, designers and workers.

5:45 pm – Never Too Old to Meow

by Rafael Primot

Brazil | 2013 | 89 min | Colour | Drama, Psychological Thriller

An old writer opens up her home to a young journalist after returning to literature from an extended break. This dark drama slowly morphs into a compulsive thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

8:00 pm – The Dognapper

by Pedro Amorim

Brazil | 2013 | 121 min | Colour | Comedy

A 30-year-old slacker decides to take action when his girlfriend dumps him and takes their dog with her.

ABOUT BRAZIL FILM FESTIVAL — The Brazil Film Fest is a small and dynamic film festival fully dedicated to showcase Brazilian productions in Toronto. It is produced by Jangada Association, a not for profit organization also behind the Festival du Film Brésilien de Montréal and the Festival du Cinema Brésilien de Paris.

Source: Brazil Film Fest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leila Monteiro Lins

Leila has more than 30 years of experience in journalism and marketing, including media relations, event planning and the development of communication strategies. In April 2010, LML launched Discover magazine in Canada.

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