This Film Festival Brings a Taste of Sunny Brazil with More Than Just Movies

Get ready to immerse yourself in Brazil’s rich and vibrant culture as the Kino Brasil Festival 2024 returns to Prague.

The film festival, running from October 15th to November 3rd, showcases a carefully curated selection of seven Brazilian films, all with subtitles in Czech, Portuguese, and English, making the event accessible to a broad audience.

The festival kicks off with a rich accompanying program weeks before the first screening. This includes lectures, debates, music and dance workshops, Brazilian coffee tastings, and parties that bring a slice of Brazil to the streets of Prague.

Expect to learn samba, sip authentic Brazilian coffee, and enjoy a Brazilian carnival experience right in the heart of the city. As Petra Pojerová, the project manager of Kino Brasil, explains:

“Through films, Brazil presents itself in all its beauty and depth, but we also want the festival to be about meeting people, discovering new things, and experiencing Brazil with all the senses.”

Highlighting Brazil’s Cultural Diversity

This year’s festival will not shy away from tackling serious topics. In addition to Brazilian cinematography, the impact of drought on Brazilian culture will be a key theme.

The drought, particularly in the northeast region known as Nordeste, significantly influences local literature, music, and religious traditions. In fact, the festival’s poster features a bird that local folklore associates with the arrival of rain—a symbol of the deep connection between climate and daily life in this region.

The theme of drought will be explored in Vidas Secas (Barren Lives), a Brazilian classic from the 1960s that serves as the festival’s opening film.

This powerful movie tells the story of a family struggling with the harsh realities of life in the drought-stricken northeast. Screening on October 29th at Ponrepo Cinema, this stark, black-and-white film remains relevant today, reflecting the ongoing hardships many families in Brazil face.

Line-up

The heart of Kino Brasil, of course, lies in its films, and this year’s line-up promises plenty of drama. From October 31st to November 3rd at Bio Oko, six contemporary films will be screened, including five dramas and one dramatic documentary.

One of the standout films is Pureza, a moving true story about a mother from Maranhão who fights against the exploitation of enslaved workers while searching for her missing son. Another highlight is the documentary Pictures of Ghosts, by renowned filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, which delves into the architecture and cultural history of Recife, blending personal memories with the city’s cinematic past.

Other films to look forward to include Portrait of a Certain Orient, a drama set in the Amazon rainforest that follows two siblings escaping war-torn Lebanon, and The Seeker, which tells the story of a young woman discovering her father’s involvement in a massive corruption scandal.

Check the full program and book tickets on the festival’s website.

Some events have free entry, while others require a ticket, so plan ahead and make sure you don’t miss out on this Brazilian experience right here in Prague!

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