Hubert Bals Fund and Brazilian partners launch new development support initiative

The Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announces together with three leading public and private partners for the promotion of cinema in Brazil – Spcine (a company of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the City of São Paulo), RioFilme (a company of Rio de Janeiro City Hall) and Projeto Paradiso – HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support, an initiative dedicated to supporting the early development of projects by second- and third-time Brazilian filmmakers and the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. 

In the pilot year of the planned three year initiative, the scheme will support up to nine fiction film projects in early development, directed by a Brazilian filmmaker and with a Brazilian production company attached, with grants of €10,000 each. As Management Partner, the Hubert Bals Fund will launch the call for projects in the second half of 2025 on IFFR.com. 

Through the scheme, the partners aim to elevate unique, innovative, and culturally significant storytelling from Brazil by giving financial support and international visibility to Brazilian filmmaking talent, whilst fostering international collaboration. The scheme combines the local knowledge and resources of two regional funding agencies Spcine, RioFilme, a foundation for the development of Brazilian filmmaking talent Projeto Paradiso with the management expertise of the HBF in uplifting projects with high artistic and collaborative potential.

“Our connection with Brazil runs deep – it’s the country we’ve supported more than any other in our 35-year history.”

A cooperation agreement was signed during Cannes, where Brazil is the Country of Honour at the Marché du Film. The initiative builds on the HBF’s recent collaborations in Brazil, including the publication Development with Impact, launched by the HBF together with Projeto Paradiso in October 2024 at the São Paulo International Film Festival, offering insights into the vital role of early-stage development funding in Brazil and beyond. 

Vanja Kalujdercic, Festival Director of IFFR, and Tamara Tatishvili, Head of the Hubert Bals Fund says: “Our connection with Brazil runs deep – it’s the country we’ve supported more than any other in our 35-year history. Many of Brazil’s leading filmmakers – including Kleber Mendonça Filho, Marcelo Gomes, Gabriel Mascaro and Julia de Simone – have benefitted from HBF support at key moments in their careers.

With this new initiative, we’re building on that legacy alongside prominent public and private partners who bring essential local knowledge and resources, as well as deep trust in the HBF’s expertise in development funding. Together, we’re acting on a shared commitment to new forms of cooperation – and to contributing meaningfully to Brazil’s independent film sector.”

Lyara Oliveira, president of Spcine says: “This partnership with the Hubert Bals Fund reinforces Spcine’s commitment to promoting São Paulo’s audiovisual industry on the international stage. The initiative expands the reach of our talents and connects São Paulo to global networks of creation and development. It is a step aligned with our strategy for internationalization and strengthening the local industry,” says Lyara Oliveira, president of Spcine.”

Leonardo Edde, President of RioFilme says: “RioFilme is proud to take this important step alongside the Hubert Bals Fund and our national partners. This initiative is not only about supporting emerging voices, but also about strengthening the legacy of Rio de Janeiro’s already remarkable cinematography . We see this as a strategic move to expand international co-development opportunities and affirm Rio’s position as a leading creative capital on the global film map.”

Josephine Bourgois, Executive Director of Projeto Paradiso says: “this initiative builds on the relationship we have established with Hubert Bals Fund over the past five years of fruitful partnership. We are pleased to unite two leading Brazilian public funds with an internationally renowned institution for this pioneering initiative aimed at supporting development – a mission that Projeto Paradiso has embraced since its inception.”

About the partners