Brazil Named Country of Honor at 2025 Cannes Film Market

by

This year, Brazil has been chosen as the ‘Country of Honor’ for the Cannes Film Market, also known as Marché du Film. This recognition reflects the increasing global influence and prestige of Brazilian cinema.

Currently, Brazilian cinema is experiencing a surge in popularity, boosted by the international acclaim of Walter Salles’ political drama “I’m Still Here“, which has been nominated for three Oscars this weekend in the categories: Best International Feature Film, Best Actress (for lead actress Fernanda Torres), and Best Picture.

At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 13 to May 21, the Brazilian industry is expected to make a significant impact across various events. Notable figures from Brazil’s industry will participate in these events and discussions aimed at fostering international connections and broadening the global influence of Brazilian narratives.

It’s exciting to share that the opening night party for the Marché will be held in Brazil, specifically at the Plage des Palmes, on May 13th.

For several decades, Brazilian cinema has consistently been showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, with its presence dating back as far as 1962 when Anselmo Duarte’s religious drama “The Given Word” received the Palme d’Or. In recent years, Brazilian films competing at Cannes have included Karim Aïnouz’s 2024 erotic thriller “Motel Destino“, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s social drama “Aquarius” from 2016, and the neo-Western “Bacurau” directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles, which won the jury prize in 2019.

Joelma Gonzaga, Secretary of Audiovisual Affairs at Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, stated that “Brazil has always been quite prominent in global cinema, particularly at Cannes.” She continued, “Our presence is clearly visible at the Marché du Film, and being designated as the country of honor in 2025 will solidify and magnify our relationship. This offers us a rare chance to broaden our networks, reinforce discussions, and display to the world the richness and ingenuity of Brazilian cinema.

Guillaume Esmiol, the director of Marché, noted that Brazil is rich in creativity and boasts a dynamic film sector. He pointed out that there has been an increasing number of Brazilian professionals at Cannes over the past few years, with last year seeing a 26% jump. With the Brazil-France Season serving as a backdrop, this collaboration symbolizes the worldwide influence of Brazil’s film industry and its strong bond with Cannes.

The recognition of Marché aligns with the 200th year marking the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Brazil and France, a milestone commemorated throughout the year through the cultural project Brazil-France Season. As stated by Brazil’s culture minister Margareth Menezes, the events at Cannes will serve to bolster “the cultural and artistic connections between our two nations.

Brazil’s participation at the Marché du Film will be coordinated jointly with Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, Instituto Guimarães Rosa, and the Brazilian Embassy in Paris. The schedule includes special screenings of films and documentaries, networking opportunities, and unveilings of fresh international co-production projects; more specifics will be shared in the upcoming months.

Starting from the year 2022, Brazil will join Switzerland (in 2024), Spain (2023), and India in being honored as the featured country, an initiative introduced by the Marché du Film to acknowledge a nation’s significant impact on the global film industry.

Read More

2025-02-26 16:24