Festival aims to promote Brazilian films, culture in Boston community
In Brazil — a country rich with culture and art — issues of creating and supporting filmmakers have arisen. However, the country’s largest film festival is working to change that.
Mostra do Filme Livre, otherwise known as the Brazilian Free Spirit Film Festival, made its debut at the Boston University College of Communication last Friday. The three-day festival, which has been running since 2002, presented films from Brazilian veterans like Júlio Bressane and newcomers Valentina Homem and Arthur Tuoto.
“We think it’s going to be interesting to show what’s going on in Brazil in the independent movies because the festival focuses on the films made without money [and] without sponsors,” said Guilherme Whitaker, the director of the festival.
The 10 movies, all short and full-length, were chosen based on their award-winning status, as well as the overarching themes they presented.
“It’s an opportunity to try to access [Brazilian] culture, and the contradictions of that culture,” said Rodrigo Lopes de Barros, a Spanish and Portuguese professor at BU. “Beyond that, I think the films are also very universal even though most are centered on the Brazilian condition.”
Lopes de Barros was Whitaker’s main contact in organizing the festival in Boston, as his award-winning documentary, “Chacal: Proibido Fazer Poesia,” previously premiered at the festival.
Lopes de Barros said BU is a place where film culture thrives. He said he also believes the university has a tradition of hosting events related to Latin American film.
The festival is an opportunity for students and Bostonians to learn about Brazil and Brazilian cinema, Whitaker said. He also explained that Brazilian film schools are scarce, and the media industry isn’t as established with equipment exponentially more expensive.
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