The feature film “The Secret Agent,” by filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, had its world premiere this Sunday (18) at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France. The production, starring Wagner Moura, is one of the contenders for the Palme d’Or, the event’s main prize. The screening was accompanied by a Brazilian cultural celebration and received applause from the audience for approximately 15 minutes.
The film is a co-production between Brazil, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and received resources from the Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA), linked to the National Cinema Agency (Ancine), with support from the Ministry of Culture (MinC).
The Brazilian delegation was a true reflection of the country’s diversity, consisting of actors and members of the technical team, including Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Juliana Paes, Barbara Paz, Isabel Zuaa, Caio Venâncio, producer Emilie Lesclaux, and the director himself. The Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, and the Secretary of Audiovisual, Joelma Gonzaga, also attended the event.
The arrival of the delegation on the red carpet was marked by a performance of Pernambuco frevo, which brought together an orchestra and artists to bring Brazilian musicality to the streets of Cannes.
Conference
Also in France, Brazil held the conference “With whom to (co)produce in Brazil?”, within the scope of the Marché du Film. The objective was to present to the international market the diverse regional profiles of Brazilian audiovisual content.
The meeting was attended by representatives of entities such as the Northeast Producers Association (APAN), the Audiovisual Connection Center-West, North and Northeast (CONNE), and the Rio Grande do Sul Cinema Foundation (Fundacine).
During her participation, Minister Margareth Menezes highlighted the strategic role of national culture in international events. “The Marché du Film features Brazil as a country of honor. This represents an important opportunity to value our cultural production. We are working to expand the insertion of Brazilian audiovisual media on the global stage,” said the minister, according to a statement released by the ministry. Kleber Mendonça Filho underscored the crucial role of public funding for the cultural sector. “Making culture express itself artistically is part of what a nation means. Brazil has a very special vocation, recognized internationally. It is a source of pride to make this film with public funds, both Brazilian and from other partner countries,” he emphasized.
Diversity
Another highlight of the program was the panel “Voices of the Majority in Cinema: The 54% Blacks of Brazil Can’t Wait,” which discussed black representation in audiovisual media. The activity brought together artists, producers, and partner organizations, such as the Guimarães Rosa Institute, UN Women, Instituto Nicho 54, and Projeto Paradiso. Actress and producer Camila Pitanga, Robson Dias (Búzios Films), Bethânia Maia (Vaporosa Cultural), and composer Pedro Santiago participated in the panel, with Markus Thersio as moderator.
Camila Pitanga highlighted the importance of a more pluralistic cinema. “We want to see a Brazil that reflects the diversity of its population, with space for voices like those of Carolina Maria de Jesus and Luiz Gama. This is the Brazilian cinema we want to build,” the actress emphasized.
The panel emphasized the importance of public policies that ensure racial equity in the production chain and promote diverse narratives in the audiovisual sector.
Source: Agência Brasil