“Elephant Memory,” directed by Mato Grosso native Severino Neto, has been selected for the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, one of Asia’s most prestigious film festivals.
Founded in 1952 and recognized by FIAPF, IFFI showcases emerging filmmakers and new cinematographies, holding a certified competitive status in the global festival circuit.
Severino Neto is in Goa to attend the screening, presenting regional Brazilian cinema to the international audience.
The film follows a 60-year-old woman coping with unresolved grief while caring for an elephant sanctuary threatened by soy expansion. A young local man sparks unexpected affection and tension.
Meanwhile, a story of two young people from the cerrado exposes rural inequalities and violence, intertwining love, territory, and resistance.
Inspired by the Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (SEB) in Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), the film depicts a real space of healing and regeneration where animals regain freedom and the cerrado flourishes.
The IFFI selection marks a milestone for Central-West Brazilian cinema, highlighting local stories with global emotional impact.
Prior to IFFI, “Elephant Memory” earned awards and recognition at development labs and programs in Lisbon, Cochabamba, and Noronha.
Severino Neto, screenwriter, director, and editor, previously directed “A Batalha de Shangri-Lá” and documentaries “Chumbo” and “Sísmico.” This is his second fiction feature in international festivals.
