The 28th Brazilian Film Festival in Paris opens today at L’Arlequin with Fernanda Abreu and a historic tribute to couple Taís Araujo and Lázaro Ramos.
The 28th Brazilian Film Festival in Paris kicks off this Tuesday, April 7, at the legendary L’Arlequin cinema in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Running through April 14, the event presents over 30 Brazilian productions across six curated sections. Organized by Jangada and curated by Katia Adler, it stands as the most important platform for Brazilian cinema in Europe.
An Opening Night to Remember
The festival opens at 7 PM with “Da Lata – 30 Anos” (From the Can – 30 Years), a documentary by Paulo Severo celebrating three decades of Fernanda Abreu‘s landmark album — a 1990s milestone that fused urban percussion, funk, samba, and electronic pop. Built from previously unseen archival material and 33 contemporary testimonials, the film screens with Fernanda Abreu and director Paulo Severo in attendance.
At 9:30 PM, “Querido Mundo” (Dear World) by Miguel Falabella and Hsu Chien takes the screen. The film earned Malu Galli the Best Actress Kikito at the Gramado Film Festival and features Marcello Novaes sharing a role with his real-life son Pedro Novaes, alongside Eduardo Moscovis and Danielle Winits. Producer Julio Uchoa will attend the screening.
A First: A Couple Honored Together
For the first time in the festival’s history, the top honor goes to a couple: Taís Araujo and Lázaro Ramos. The ceremony on April 12 will be hosted by Franco-Senegalese actress and director Aïssa Maïga — known for “Mood Indigo” and “Paris, I Love You,” and celebrated for leading a group of 16 Black actresses in a public protest at Cannes against the lack of diversity in European cinema.
The retrospective dedicated to the honorees includes “Medida Provisória” (Provisional Measure), directed by Lázaro Ramos himself, Karim Aïnouz’s “Madame Satã”, Sérgio Machado’s “Tudo o que Aprendemos Juntos” (Like a Butterfly), and two other landmark titles from their careers.
A Tribute to Paulo Gustavo
April 12 also brings a deeply emotional tribute to beloved comedian and actor Paulo Gustavo. The session features “Minha Mãe é uma Peça 3” (My Mom Is a Character 3) and a never-before-seen tribute video produced by Globo Filmes. Dermatologist Thales Bretas, Paulo’s widower, will accept the honor alongside actress Ingrid Guimarães, his longtime friend and collaborator.
Program Highlights
The new Afternoon Session – 2025 Hits section spotlights recent milestones of Brazilian cinema. “Ainda Estou Aqui” (I’m Still Here) by Walter Salles, winner of the Oscar for Best International Feature Film in 2025, leads the lineup. Also featured: “O Agente Secreto” (The Secret Agent) by Kleber Mendonça Filho, this year’s Oscar nominee, along with titles by Gabriel Mascaro and Andrucha Waddington.
A Call for Institutional Support
Curator Katia Adler uses this edition to raise an urgent concern: “This edition highlights a reality that needs to be discussed: the absence of a structured public policy to support Brazilian festivals held outside Brazil. The international distribution of Brazilian cinema — built over years through independent initiatives, local partnerships, and the constant work of small teams — still does not seem to be understood as a strategic action. For those working daily to promote Brazilian audiovisual abroad, there remains a sense that there is no real institutional interest in what we do — work that strengthens the country’s image, builds cultural bridges, and opens concrete pathways for films, filmmakers, and the Brazilian industry on the world stage.”
Event Info
- 28th Brazilian Film Festival in Paris
- April 7–14, 2026
- L’Arlequin Cinema – Paris, France
- Official website: https://www.jangada.org
- Apr 7, 7 PM – “Da Lata – 30 Anos” (Opening) | with Fernanda Abreu and Paulo Severo
- Apr 7, 9:30 PM – “Querido Mundo” | with producer Julio Uchoa
- Apr 12, 6:30 PM – “Medida Provisória” | Special tribute session for Taís Araujo and Lázaro Ramos
- Apr 12, 9:20 PM – “Minha Mãe é uma Peça 3” | Paulo Gustavo Tribute, with Thales Bretas and Ingrid Guimarães
