Screen Brasil, the leading initiative from Embratur and Projeto Paradiso designed to boost the international distribution of Brazilian features, has selected two standout Brazilian films as their next recipients: Allan Deberton’s “Gugu’s World” and Grace Passô’s “Our Secret.” The selection was announced today at a panel held during the Industry Days of the São Paulo International Film Festival.
Both films premiered at the Berlinale earlier in the year and have gone on to have successful festival runs, with the former becoming Brazil’s entry for Best International Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards and the latter winning the prestigious Kikito Award for Best Film at the lauded Gramado Film Festival.
“Gugu’s World” will receive support for its release in Spain, with international sales handled by Germany-based M-Appeal. “Our Secret,” the feature directorial debut of acclaimed Brazilian actor and playwright Passô (who could also be seen this year in Gabriel Martins’ “On Behalf of Our Son” and Ricardo Alves Jr.’s “The French Teacher”), will be supported for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, with Italy-based The Open Reel handling international sales.
Each film will receive $15,000 to support its international rollout, covering expenses such as subtitling, marketing, publicity and other audience-building initiatives in the selected territories.
First announced during last year’s Rio Film Festival, Screen Brasil aims to strengthen the global circulation of Brazilian cinema while showcasing the country’s cultural diversity and creative industries to international audiences. The initiative is a fortunate meeting between two organizations aligned in promoting Brazilian culture: Embratur, Brazil’s tourism agency, and Projeto Paradiso, a philanthropic organization dedicated to boosting the careers of Brazilian audiovisual talent on national and global stages. The partnership also forms part of Embratur’s broader strategy to promote Brazil internationally through tourism, culture and the creative economy.
In May of this year, Screen Brasil announced the recipients of its inaugural edition: “Papaya”, directed by Priscilla Kellen, with international sales handled by Best Friend Forever; “The Blue Trail”, directed by Gabriel Mascaro, with international sales handled by Lucky Number; and “The Nature of Invisible Things”, directed by Rafaela Camelo, with international sales handled by The Open Reel.
“Supporting the international distribution of Brazilian cinema turns feature films into key showcases for promoting Brazil’s soft power,” said Christiano Braga, Embratur’s audiovisual and creative economy coordinator. “On screens worldwide, these productions introduce foreign audiences to our rich biomes, culinary scene, and cultural heritage. This approach captures the interest of international travelers, drives the creation of specialized travel itineraries, and positions the country as a welcoming hub for film and TV productions, boosting local economies through screen tourism.”
Projeto Paradiso’s program director Rachel do Valle added that “international recognition at festivals is an important first step, but ensuring that Brazilian films reach audiences beyond the festival circuit remains a major challenge.”
“Through Screen Brasil, we want to help bridge that gap, supporting distributors and sales agents in bringing Brazilian stories to new markets and building a more sustainable international presence for our cinema,” she emphasized.
Following this selection, Screen Brasil will open a second round of applications for its expanded sophomore edition in the first half of 2027, a strategic calendar positioning that will allow the program to align more closely with the timing of international sales negotiations and festival markets. Full guidelines and application details for the next round can be found on the initiative’s official website.
Launched by Embratur, Brazil’s tourism promotion agency, and Projeto Paradiso, a philanthropic organization dedicated to boosting the careers of Brazilian audiovisual talent on national and global stages, Screen Brasil aims to strengthen the global circulation of Brazilian cinema while showcasing the country’s cultural diversity and creative industries to international audiences.