THE STORYTELLERS (Narradores de Javé)

http://www.bananeirafilmes.com.br/filmes/feature-films/the-storytellers

The small village of Javé is suddenly overwhelmed by the sudden threat of extinction: it is to disappear, flooded by the waters of a huge hydroelectric power plant. The community decides to adopt a strategy both novel and uncommon to assure its own preservation: the preparation of a dossier that will document what it considers to be the “great” and “noble” events of the village’s history. However, since the majority of Javé dwellers can hardly write their own name, it is necessary to get hold of the only literate member of the community – Antonio Biá, an anarchic individual of dubious character – to accomplish the task.

DIRECTOR - Eliane Caffé

ELIANE CAFFÉ started her direction’s career with the realization of three short-cut movies – O Nariz (The Nose)/1987, Arabesco (Arabesque)/1990 and Caligrama (Caligram)/1995 – which have been awarded a lot of times in and outside the country. In 1997 shot her first feature film Kenoma (Kenoma), selected for the 55th La Bienale di Venezia (Prospettive) and for the 23º Annual Showing – Toronto International Film Festival, and winner of many important prizes, as the “SOLEIL D’OR” for Best Film – XX Biarritz International Film Festival/France.

PRODUCER Bananeira Filmes LANGUAGE Portuguese RUNNING TIME 93 min GENRE Fiction Color, 2003 WASTE LAND (Lixo Extraordinário)

http://www.wastelandmovie.com/

Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows renowned contemporary artist as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self- designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives.

WASTE LAND was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, and has won over 50 other film awards including the International Documentary Association's Best Documentary Award.

DIRECTOR - Lucy Walker

LUCY WALKER is an award-winning British filmmaker, who uses dramatic techniques to make documentary films, following memorable characters on transformative journeys that grant unique access inside closed worlds. Her latest documentary, , is a terrifying exposé of the current threat of nuclear terrorism and proliferation. Previous films include BLINDSIGHT and DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, both of which have received numerous international awards.

PRODUCER Almega Projects and O2 Filmes LANGUAGE Portuguese, English RUNNING TIME 99 min GENRE Documentary Color, 2010 A HUNGARIAN PASSPORT (Um Passaporte Húngaro)

Speaking over the telephone with the Hungarian consulate, Brazilian filmmaker Sandra Kogut asks, “Can someone who has a Hungarian grandfather obtain a Hungarian passport?” The bureaucrat on the other end of the line is confused, “Yes…it’s possible…but why do you want a Hungarian passport?”. The administrative process of obtaining a passport becomes the conducting thread of the film.

Kogut creates a private journal of her trips to and from Brazil, Hungary, and France, recording the Kafkaesque experience of her frustrating and often hysterical attempts to jump through the necessary bureaucratic hoops. On the way, she explores a painful family history of forced emigration and the pervasive effects of racism. At the same time, she confronts some essential questions: What is nationality? What is a passport for?

DIRECTOR – Sandra Kogut

Sandra Kogut has created performance art, installations, music videos, TV programs, video art, multimedia works, and documentaries. She has received various international awards. Among her works are “What Do You Think People Think Brazil Is?”(1989), “Videocabines são caixas pretas” (1990), “Parabolic People” (1991), “Lá e Cá” (1995), “Adiu Monde or Pierre and Claire's Story” (1997), and “Lecy e Humberto nos campos neutrais” (1999). She currently lives in France.

PRODUCER República Pureza Filmes LANGUAGE Portuguese, French, Hungarian RUNNING TIME 72 min GENRE Documentary Color, 2001

UNTANGLE (Desenrola)

www.desenrolaofilme.com.br

Priscila is a 16 year old girl from Rio de Janeiro, too normal for her own linking. She lives with her mother who goes on a 20 day business trip, leaving Priscila at home alone for the first time. During this period, she passes through great changes and different “first times”: falls in love, gets rejected, embarrasses herself and loses her virginity. Little by little, she discovers that nothing is as she expected: the perfect guy is not so perfect, the popular girl is insecure, the clueless classmate is actually romantic and her best friend might not be telling her everything that is happening to him. Desenrola is a truthful coming of age tale featuring compelling performances by its young cast.

DIRECTOR – Rosane Svartman

ROSANE SVARTMAN is a filmmaker, screenwriter and TV director born in 1971 in Memphis, USA, who moved to Brazil as a child. Her first feature film, “How to be Single in Rio” (1997), won the Special Jury Award and Best Actor (for Ernesto Piccolo) in the Brasilia Film Festival. She is a prolific director of short films, music videos and various programs and miniseries for television. Currently divides her activities between TV and cinema.

PRODUCER Raccord Produções LANGUAGE Portuguese RUNNING TIME 88 min GENRE Fiction Color, 2011

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES (É Proibido Fumar)

http://eproibidofumar.uol.com.br/

BABY (Gloria Pires), a chain-smoking guitar teacher in her forties, craves for a romantic relationship. When musician MAX (Paulo Miklos) moves into the apartment next door, she sees the possibility of turning her lonely life around. Instead, she unexpectedly finds herself involved in a love triangle leading to a terrible jealous rage.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes balances the fine line between comedy and tragedy, taking its characters on a journey to and from the dark side. As in life, they end up bruised, but perhaps better human beings in the long run. The movie has won various awards in Brazil for best feature film, best screenplay, best director and best actress.

DIRECTOR – Anna Muylaert

Anna Muylaert is a Brazilian screenwriter and television and film director. She has directed six short films before directing her first feature film, “” (2002), which went out to win seven awards out of fourteen at Gramado Festival, including Best Director and Best Film. Her last feature film, “Chamada a Cobrar”, was released in 2012.

PRODUCER Dezenove Filmes LANGUAGE Portuguese RUNNING TIME 86 min GENRE Fiction Color, 2009

CHEGA DE SAUDADE (Chega de Saudade)

http://www.chegadesaudadeofilme.com.br/

“Chega de Saudade” takes place during one night in a typical Brazilian dance hall (“gafieira”) and tells the stories of various of the characters who attend it. Filled with song and dance, the audience will feel as if they were a part of the thrilling environment of the ballroom - the movie was shot in one of the most traditional dance halls in São Paulo, União Fraterna.

“Chega de Saudade” has won seven national and international awards in the categories of Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack features classic tunes by Brazilian legendary singer Elza Soares, who also participates in the movie as the ballroom’s band crooner.

Director – Laís Bodanzky

São Paulo born filmmaker Laís Bodanzky directed her first feature film, “Bicho de Sete Cabeças” in 2000, which went out to win many awards in native Brazil and was considered a great public and critical success.

“Chega de Saudade” is her second feature film; released during the Brasília Film Festival, it won awards for Best Picture chosen by the audience, Best Screenplay and Best Director.

PRODUCER Gullane Filmes LANGUAGE Portuguese RUNNING TIME 95 min GENRE Fiction Color, 2007