As São Paulo State and Brazil at large prepare to allocate funding for film, television, video games, and more, there is a strong likelihood that the Brazilian Congress will pass a global streaming investment quota for Brazilian films and series this year. If this occurs, producer Fabiano Gullane ("Senna") estimates that R$700 million-R$800 million ($122 million-$140 million) could be invested in independent Brazilian productions.
Brazil is already Latin America's comeback story, and its players, thanks to "I'm Still Here" and "Senna," are gaining international recognition. Notably, several impressive São Paulo companies will be present at this year's Berlin Film Festival, often with support from São Paulo State. These frequent international co-producers are worth mentioning. Here's an overview of some companies attending Berlin, with more to be added later.
An animation studio and, since 2016, a live-action producer behind the toon series "Osmar" and the Netflix Brazil hit "Love is a Hard Job." Led by McHaddo, a trans woman with a passion for comedy who performs stand-up in Brazilian comedy clubs. "I want to tell stories from my perspective while keeping it fun and accessible for all audiences," McHaddo tells Variety. Currently preparing a comedy, an animated feature, and a documentary, all exploring transgender experiences. "We believe that movies can break down prejudice, and now is the time to share these kinds of stories," she adds.
Launched in 2012 by Bianca Villar, Fernando Frahia, and Karen Castanho, this company produced the highest-grossing Brazilian films of 2014, 2019, and 2021. It also created the HBO Latin America series "PSI," which received three Intl. Emmy nominations. That said, it boasts a remarkable range of voices, supporting Carolina Markowicz's "Charcoal" and "Toll" and now another iconic female director from Brazil, "The Second Mother's" Anna Muylaert, whose "The Best Mother in the World" will premiere as a Berlinale Special. Biônica Filmes is also present at the Berlinale Co-Production Market with Markowicz's upcoming "The Funeral."
Would TV history have unfolded differently without Boutique Filmes? It produced "3%," Netflix's second fully non-English-language series, which debuted in 2016 and whose significant success outside Brazil encouraged Netflix to pursue local productions worldwide. Pioneering Netflix Brazilian true crime with "Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime," Boutique has also collaborated with Globoplay, Prime Video, Disney+, and Max, increasingly engaging in international co-productions. Boutique is attending Berlin with "Suture," which is part of the Berlin Series Market Selects. It's "an international medical-thriller rollercoaster ride," according to Mello.
A producer on "I'm Not Here," Brazil's first Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, Conspiraçao is regarded as a modern classic in the country's production scene. Founded in 1991, it has earned 10 International Emmy nominations. As the producer of TV Globo's "Under Pressure," HBO's "Magnífica 70," and Netflix's "Reality Z," Conspiraçao relies on its stable of directors, including Andrucha Waddington, Carolina Jabor, and Claudio Torres. In film, it spans from prestigious fare like Cannes Un Certain Regard standout "Me You Them" to local blockbusters like "Vai Que Cola."
An Emmy award-winning production company, responsible for 2012's "Pedro & Bianca," has partnered with major players like Warner Brothers Discovery, Globo, Netflix, and Disney. Active in the market since 2003, Coração da Selva operates with a commitment to "social responsibility and inclusion" and is behind projects like Karim Aïnouz's acclaimed Berlin competition entry "Futuro Beach," starring "Civil War's" Wagner Moura, and "Just Short of Perfect," which became the most-watched titled film on Netflix during its release week. The company is currently airing the first independently produced Brazilian novela, "Scars of Beauty," which became Max's most-watched show upon its release.
Launched in 1991 by director Carlos Reichenbach and soon producing his "Alma Corsária," in 2007 Marcelo Gomes' feature debut "Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures," Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra's Cannes Un Certain Regard player "Hard Labor," and a Dezenove highpoint, werewolf fairy tale "Good Manners," a Locarno Special Jury Prize winner. Dezenove is "driven by work and passion, working on Brazilian cinema internationally to solidify our works abroad, and with this support, we can universalize our Brazilian films," says Silveira, who has Gomes' latest movie, "Dolores," in post-production.
The producer behind Cannes-selected "Carandiru" and Sundance and Berlin winner "The Second Mother," Gullane's 2024 was another remarkable year for the production company. Karim Aïnouz's "Motel Destino" competed at Cannes; "Noah's Ark," sold to 70 countries, became the highest-grossing Brazilian animation film ever; and "Senna" ran for six weeks in Netflix's non-English language series Global Top 10. Gullane is attending Berlin with a full slate of upcoming titles featuring new films from Fernando Coimbra, André Ristum, and Cao Hamburger, as it explores new strategic initiatives. "We are at Berlin to grow international co-productions, test sales agent waters on new projects, and establish positive connections with festival heads," says Fabiano Gullane.
Founded in 2009, Lighthouse specializes in romantic comedies and innovative reality shows, two immensely popular genres in Brazil. Their diverse slate ranges from the political thriller "Real: The Plan Behind History" to "Juju Boot Camp," an all-female reality show set in a military camp. Recently, the company produced "Zero to Hero," which reached the top 2 titles on Netflix Brazil and the top 5 in non-English-speaking territories. Currently focused on international expansion, Lighthouse is attending Berlin with the historical epic "Ramon Castillas Path" (co-produced with Peru's Imagia Film) and the romantic drama "Love Connection," as well as shopping the format for their Fitness Influencer Boot Camp.
RT Features' exceptional co-production portfolio includes Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me By Your Name," Robert Eggers' "The Lighthouse," and now Radu Jude's 2025 Berlin Competition player "Kontinental 25." RT Features is increasingly propelling Brazilian talent onto the world stage, having first produced Karim Aïnouz's Cannes 2019 Un Certain Regard winner "The Invisible Life" and now Walter Salles' triple Oscar-nominated "I'm Still Here." Founded in 2006, RT Features films exhibit "bold ideas that explore the balance between critical acclaim and box office success, requiring a deep understanding of genre combinations, high-quality filmmaking, and relevance to the current zeitgeist," says RT executive producer Berta Marchiori.
Launched in 2016 by Bruna Veras, Supernova focuses on production design, scenography, residential architecture, interior design, and education. The company creates "immersive spaces that blend storytelling and functionality" and has been involved in projects like "Down Quixote," "A