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HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support celebrates successful pilot and launches second edition at Cannes

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International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), together with Brazilian partners Projeto Paradiso, RioFilme, Spcine and Embratur, announce the continuation of the HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support initiative following a successful pilot round. To mark the occasion, the initiative’s partners will host a panel discussion at the Marché du Film in Cannes on Monday 18 May.

The announcement builds on a strong collaboration for the pilot round in 2025 that saw 10 Brazilian fiction film projects receive grants of €10,000, each reflecting the breadth of Brazilian filmmaking today, with filmmakers and producers represented across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other regions of the country. 

The partners were in attendance at IFFR 2026, which saw Brazilian talent represented across the programme – from Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent and a Tiger Competition entry in Tiago Melo’s Yellow Cake, to two HBF-supported projects in the inaugural CineMart x HBF line-up, and the HBF Empowerment Award going to Darkroom project Marina by Laís Santos Araújo and Pethrus Tibúrcio.

Panel discussion at the Marché du Film Producers’ Network, Cannes

On Monday 18 May, 17.30 – 19.00, the initiative’s partners invite producers to a panel discussion marking the second round of the initiative. Representatives from each partner organisation will discuss the broader landscape and international collaborations supporting the latest wave of Brazilian cinematic success, as well as looking in-depth at the significance of the HBF+Brazil initiative.

The panel brings together representatives from all partnering institutions for opening remarks:

And the following panelists:

The event is open to accredited participants of the Producers’ Network or upon presentation of a print/e-invitation. 

More information on the upcoming call will be published on IFFR.com in July. 

Tamara Tatishvili, Head of the Hubert Bals Fund, said:  “What began as an alumni gathering at the Mostra de São Paulo in October 2024, has now grown to a multi-year initiative HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support, and it’s something I’m extremely proud of. We’re proving the value of bringing public and private partners together around one of the most fragile phases of the film value chain and we’ll go into the second round with an even greater confidence in this unique collaboration.” 

Josephine Bourgois, Executive Director of Projeto Paradiso, commented: “We are proud to see an initiative born from bilateral conversations at IFFR 2024 grow and consolidate after a highly successful pilot edition. Continuity is essential for the sustainable growth of our industry, and support for development remains a strategic priority that must stay firmly on the agenda of both public and private funders.”

“HBF+Brazil is a concrete example of how public and private partners can work together to support filmmakers at one of the most decisive and vulnerable stages of the creative process.”

Leonardo Edde, President of RioFilme, added: “Development is where the future of cinema begins. HBF+Brazil is a concrete example of how public and private partners can work together to support filmmakers at one of the most decisive and vulnerable stages of the creative process. For RioFilme and the City of Rio de Janeiro, this partnership strengthens our commitment to an audiovisual industry that is more diverse, better structured and increasingly connected to the international market.”

Anna Paula Montini, President of Spcine, said: “The renewal of this partnership at Cannes marks a new chapter in our mission to internationalize Brazilian cinema. The success of our work with the Hubert Bals Fund has proven that strategic institutional alignment is key to strengthening the full potential of our creators. The fund’s involvement ensures that these Brazilian narratives par excellence emerge with immediate international credibility and projection, expanding the global reach of our contemporary production. For Spcine, promoting powerful stories alongside our partners proves to be a highly effective way to ensure they resonate worldwide. We are thrilled to extend this journey, fostering innovation and excellence in every screenplay we support.” 

Roberto Gevaerd,  Director of Management and Innovation at Embratur, commented: “Brazil’s audiovisual sector is a powerful expression of our cultural identity and creativity, and initiatives like HBF+Brazil play a vital role in strengthening its international presence. At Embratur, we see film and audiovisual production as key drivers of destination promotion, showcasing Brazil’s diversity, talent and stories to global audiences. Supporting co-development and international collaboration not only fosters artistic exchange but also reinforces Brazil’s position as a vibrant and strategic partner in the global creative economy.”

About HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support

Launched in May 2025, HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support supports early-stage fiction film development by Brazilian filmmakers with grants of €10,000 for fiction film projects in early development directed by second- or third-time Brazilian filmmakers, with a Brazilian production company attached. The initiative combines the local knowledge and resources of Spcine, RioFilme, Projeto Paradiso and Embratur with the HBF’s expertise in development funding. It forms part of the HBF’s long-standing commitment to Brazilian cinema – Brazil is the country the fund has supported most in its 35-year history.

  • About the Hubert Bals Fund

    The Hubert Bals Fund of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) was established in 1988 to support groundbreaking film projects in every stage of the production process. The HBF has a special focus on filmmakers from countries where local filmmaking and infrastructure is lacking or restrictive. To date the HBF has supported over 1,100 film projects, many of which have premiered at major film festivals and received significant critical acclaim. Recent award-winning HBF films include Lucrecia Martel’s Landmarks, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s A Useful Ghost and Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light.

  • About Projeto Paradiso

    Projeto Paradiso is a foundation that offers a wide range of support for professionals in film and episodic content and champions their presence on the global stage. Focused on internationalisation, Projeto Paradiso works through partnerships with well-known institutions, thereby connecting national talent with training and business opportunities around the world.

  • About RioFilme

    Founded in 1992, RioFilme is the municipal public company that supports the audiovisual sector in Rio de Janeiro. Its mission is to foster the sector’s development across the entire value chain, strengthening both the city’s economy and cultural identity. Rio Film Commission supports Brazilian and international producers who want to shoot in the city.

  • About Spcine

    Spcine is a public company based in São Paulo, Brazil, dedicated to fostering the audiovisual sector, linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the City of São Paulo. It operates as a development agency, funding and implementing programs and policies for the film, TV, gaming, and new media industries. Its mission is to recognise and promote the economic and creative potential of São Paulo’s audiovisual industry as well as its cultural and social impact.

  • About Embratur

    Embratur’s mission is to plan, formulate, and implement actions for the international promotion of Brazilian tourism products, services, and destinations, in cooperation with the federal public administration and in partnership with governments, municipalities, and the private sector.

    The goal is to attract international tourists and strengthen the country’s economy in partnership with destinations and businesses across the service chain that make these tourists’ experiences unforgettable. Tourist destinations prepared for international promotion can count on the Agency’s support and become part of this strategy.

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