9th BRAFFTV: A BIG CELEBRATION OF BRAZILIAN CINEMA
Brazilian Film and TV Festival of Toronto – Oct 15 – Oct 18, 2015
ENGLISH SUBTITLES | FREE ADMISSION | CARLTON CINEMA
by Leila Monteiro Lins
The best of Brazilian Cinematography will be for the ninth time celebrated in the land of film festivals. Southern Mirrors and Puente are proud to present the 2015 edition of BRAFFTV – Brazilian Film and TV Festival of Toronto.
According to Alexandre Dias Ramos, the festival’s curator, “this year, BRAFFTV brings films that show an “insider’s view”. While in our last edition the idea was to conceive society and its individuals from a macro view through creative, political or collective social production, this year our perspective focuses on the micro-universe of individuals and the transformation of the world from their own world. The films are about each person’s time; the wait that can drive a step forward; also about the power of old age and meeting one’s fate. In different ways, all films selected this year show that their characters have accepted the role life wrote for them, but not passively — they own this role and move forward to transform life itself. In the words of Fernando Pessoa, “we navigate the map we draw”. It is this map we invite you to travel.”
The four-day festival showcases a vibrant line-up of 8 films among features, documentaries, animation and shorts with the best recent Brazilian film productions from all genres.
BRAFFTV’s Schedule
FREE ADMISSION
Thursday, October 15th at 7pm
OPENING SESSION
The Farewell (A Despedida)
Drama / 90’/ 2014
Directed by Marcelo Galvão
Based on a true story, the film tells the story of ‘Admiral’ (Nelson Xavier), a man who used to be very active and bon vivant but is facing difficulties inherent to his old age, in spite of his young spirit and indefatigable libido. At 92, one day he wakes up willing to fulfill his longing for the greatest love of his life, his former lover (Juliana Paes), a woman who is 55 years younger and in love with him.
Screened with the short
Don’t Say Goodbye, I Say See You Soon (Eu Não Digo Adeus, Digo Até Logo)
Drama / 16’ / 2014
Directed by Giuliana Monteiro
The passion for trucks follows Antonio, a 10-year-old boy who lives in Corrego do Machado, a small village by the road in Minas Gerais, Brazil. His mother says he was born inside the cabin of his father’s truck a red 1518 Mercedes Benz. An old photograph of the truck is all that is left from this memory. While Antonio imagines his father’s life as a truck driver, he searches for clues and draws routes on the map in an attempt to fulfill his dream of finding his father.
Friday, October 17th
7 pm
Insubordinate (Insubordinados)
Drama / 82’/ 2014
Directed by Edu Felistoque
With her father in terminal state at the hospital, Janete does nothing but spend his final days beside him. While waiting for the inevitable end of that painful journey, Janete writes incessantly, creating a police plot that helps address her deepest fears and desires, an escape valve that reveals much about who she is and how she faces such a tough situation. The film seeks to remind people of how creativity can be transformative. It is a compliment to all narrators, who love to tell stories.
Screened with the short
Castillo y el Armado (Castillo y el Armado)
Animation / 13’/ 2014
Directed by Pedro Harres
Castillo is a young dockworker who lives in a remote beach, somewhere between Brazil and Uruguay. He shares his time between the carpets he has to carry, his family and a fishing rod at the pier. One windy night, he faces his own brutality caught in the fishhook.
Saturday, October 17th
5pm
BRAFFTV Talk Series
Diverse Creative Team: bringing new stories to life
Join us for the discussion of the importance of diversity in creative teams. With the participation of award-winning directors Danilo Baracho and Mark Datuin and actress Sedina Fiati, co-chair of ACTRA’s Diversity Committee. Free admission.
7pm
Sintonizah (Sintonizah)
Documentary / 54’ / 2015
Directed by Lecuk Ishida and Willy Biondani
This documentary takes the viewer on a groovy trip between Kingston, Jamaica, and São Luís do Maranhão, Brazil, conveying the emotions of those who live reggae and its incredible history. The film also reveals how the Maranhão culture has incorporated this musical genre, transforming the local scene into the “Brazilian Jamaica”.
Screened with the shorts
The Little Match Girl (A Pequena Vendedora de Fósforos)
Animation / 9’/ 2014
Directed by Kyoko Yamashita
She is only a child struggling to survive in the concrete jungle. She was born unwanted, survives in an infamous way and will die rejected for what she is — poor, dirty and uneducated. Taking refuge in her imagination, she finally finds a comforting end.
Broders (Broders)
Drama / 14’ / 2014
Directed by Andre Matias
An American soldier and a petty thief meet at a bus stop in São Luís do Maranhão. Now, life brings them together again, with their memories, joys and fears of the 8 years they have been apart. In the past there is something they wish to delete, but there is also a lot to retrieve.
CLOSING SCREENING
Sunday, October 18th at 7 pm
7pm
Trinta (Trinta)
Drama / 94’ / 2014
Directed by Paulo Machline
Based on true events, Trinta tells the backstage story of Joaosinho Trinta, a self-taught artist and frustrated ballet dancer who revolutionized Rio de Janeiro’s carnival parade in the 70s, becoming one of Brazil’s most innovative artists of all times.
Screened with the short
The Club (O Clube)
Drama / 17’ / 2014
The Ok club celebrates 53 years.
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ABOUT BRAFFTV
BRAFFTV – Brazilian Film and TV Festival brings the best of recent Brazilian cinematography to Toronto. Featuring documentaries, workshops, animated, feature and short films, BRAFFTV creates a space where Canadian and Brazilian film industry professionals can exchange knowledge. In the past seven years, BRAFFTV presented over 300 films and brought over 60 filmmakers to Toronto. The 2015 edition will bring North American and Canadian premieres.
The Festival will be held from October 15th to October 18th, 2015 at Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street). www.BRAFFTV.com.
ABOUT SOUTHERN MIRRORS
Southern Mirrors is a Toronto-based company that brings you the best in international culture. It strives to present projects that contain universal themes that transcend cultural and geographic boundaries, such as: Nelson Rodrigues Festival, Upto3’, Expressions of Brazil at Harbourfront Centre, among others.
ABOUT PUENTE
Puente is a Brazilian company specialized in creating, producing and promoting festivals and events in Africa (Tanzania), South America (Chile) and Canada. It is a door to the Brazilian market, helping Canadian and North American companies to find the right people and to create tools to improve their businesses in Brazil.
For additional information and complete event listings, the public may visit www.brafftv.com.
Barbara de la Fuente
BRAFFTV | 647-242-6646 | press@brafftv.com
