Screen Brasil Backs Oscar Hopeful 'Gugu's World' and Gramado Winner 'Our Secret'

Screen Brasil will give $15,000 each to Allan Deberton's "Gugu's World" and Grace Passô's "Our Secret" to fund their international distribution. The initiative announced the selection at a panel during the Industry Days of the São Paulo International Film Festival.

The numbers are modest. The intent is not. Both films premiered at this year's Berlinale and have prospered on the circuit since.

What does the selection cover?

"Gugu's World" — Brazil's entry for Best International Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards — will receive support for its release in Spain. Germany-based M-Appeal handles its international sales.

"Our Secret," the feature directorial debut of actor and playwright Passô, gets backing for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, with Italy-based The Open Reel on sales. Passô also appeared this year in Gabriel Martins' "On Behalf of Our Son" and Ricardo Alves Jr.'s "The French Teacher."

The $15,000 per film covers subtitling, marketing, publicity and other audience-building initiatives in the chosen territories.

Who is behind Screen Brasil?

The program pairs two organizations: Embratur, Brazil's tourism agency, and Projeto Paradiso, a philanthropic organization that boosts Brazilian audiovisual talent. Launched at last year's Rio Film Festival, Screen Brasil wants to push Brazilian features into global circulation while advertising the country's cultural diversity abroad.

"Supporting the international distribution of Brazilian cinema turns feature films into key showcases for promoting Brazil's soft power," said Christiano Braga, Embratur's audiovisual and creative economy coordinator. "On screens worldwide, these productions introduce foreign audiences to our rich biomes, culinary scene, and cultural heritage. This approach captures the interest of international travelers, drives the creation of specialized travel itineraries, and positions the country as a welcoming hub for film and TV productions, boosting local economies through screen tourism."

In short, films sell the country. The country, in turn, funds the films.

Projeto Paradiso's program director Rachel do Valle was blunt about the gap. "International recognition at festivals is an important first step, but ensuring that Brazilian films reach audiences beyond the festival circuit remains a major challenge," she said.

"Through Screen Brasil, we want to help bridge that gap, supporting distributors and sales agents in bringing Brazilian stories to new markets and building a more sustainable international presence for our cinema," she added.

Who got the money before?

The inaugural round, announced in May, backed three films:

• "Papaya," directed by Priscilla Kellen, sold by Best Friend Forever
• "The Blue Trail," directed by Gabriel Mascaro, sold by Lucky Number
• "The Nature of Invisible Things," directed by Rafaela Camelo, sold by The Open Reel

"Our Secret" won the Kikito Award for Best Film at the Gramado Film Festival, adding local hardware to its Berlinale premiere. "Gugu's World" carries the bigger prize: an Oscar campaign.

What happens next?

Screen Brasil opens a second application round in the first half of 2027 for an expanded sophomore edition. The calendar is deliberate — timed to match international sales negotiations and festival markets. Full guidelines sit on the initiative's official website.

Two films, two territories, thirty thousand dollars. It is a small bet on the theory that a Brazilian film in a Madrid or Toronto cinema does more for the country's image than any brochure.