Première Brasil: Opening with "Chico Xavier"

Opening with the curator Ilda Santiago, the producer Julio Uchoa, the scriptwriter Eliane Trindade, and the directors Karim Ainouz, Raphael Alvarez, Jeferson De, Tatiana Issa, Fabiano Maciel, Ana Maria Magalhães and Ana Muylaert.

19.30 h
CHICO XAVIER
D: Daniel Filho, BR 2010, 124 min, English subtitles

As a child, Francisco Cândido Xavier, known simply as “Chico Xavier“, had many encounters with ghosts, including that of his mother, who died at an early age. His family thought he was crazy. As an adult, however, Chico Xavier used his extra-sensory powers to attain media stardom. He achieved international fame during a murder trial in 1979, when he mediated a “statement” by the victim which led to the defendant’s acquittal. Daniel Filho’s feature film tells the story of one of the most glamorous and successful spiritual mediums in Brazilian history, and eight year’s after Xavier’s death, scored the surprise hit of the Brazilian cinema season in 2010.

22.00 h
Reception + Lounge and Party with Daniel Haaksman (Man Recordings)

In cooperation with the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. Supported by Secretariado Audiovisual - Brazilian Ministry of Culture, Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazilian Embassy in Berlin

Supported by the Federal Foreign Office.

Karim Ainouz (b. 1966 in Fortaleza) is one of the most famous and innovative directors working in Brazil. His feature film "Madame Satã" (2002) marked his breakthrough as a director. The film about the eccentric dancer, singer and transvestite João Francisco dos Santos was premiered at Cannes and received awards at numerous festivals. Karim Ainouz lives in Berlin.

Rafael Alvarez (b. 1974 in Rio de Janeiro) grew up in Rio and starred in soap operas as a child. He later went to New York, where he studied acting, directing and theater. Today he works as a dancer in Broadway musicals and - together with Tatiana Issa - as a film director.

Jefferson De (b. 1968) is best known for his short film, "Genesis 22" (1999), Distraída para a morte“(2001), “Carolina“ (2003) und “Narciso Rap“ (2004). In 2003, he founded his own production company which produced the programs "Brasil Total" and "Central da Periferia" for Rede Globo TV. He also directed the show "TramaVirtual" for the music company Trama. „Bróder!“ is his first feature film.

Daniel Filho (* 1937 in Rio de Janeiro) is a successful film producer, director, actor and screenplay writer. He won international renown as an actor in the film “Os Cafajestes“, which was shown in 1962 at the Berlinale, and in the 1984 film “Quilombo“. The films he has produced include “Orfeu“, directed by Carlos Diegues (1999).

Tatiana Issa (b. 1974 in São Paulo) started her acting career at the age of seven. She has studied all over the world, including in Paris and New York, and has worked as an actress and director in international productions. Her first feature film, "Dzi Croquettes" (2009), co-directed with Rafael Alvarez, has garnered numerous awards worldwide.

Fabiano Maciel (b. 1965 in Porto Alegre) is a director, producer and screenwriter. His documentary essay on the reaction of a small Brazilian community to the moon landing by Apollo 11 grabbed the limelight at numerous festivals and was also shown at MoMA in New York. “Oscar Niemeyer – A Vida é um Sopro“ is Maciel’s first documentary feature film and he spent ten years working on it.

Ana Maria Magalhães (b. 1950 in Rio de Janeiro) is one of Brazil’s most popular actresses. She has starred in numerous films by legendary Brazilian directors, from "Girl from Ipanema" by Leon Hirszman to "Age of the Earth" by Glauber Rocha. In the late 1970s, she directed her first documentary film, "Mulheres de Cinema" (Women in Film), and later directed two documentaries about the architect and urban planner Affonso Eduardo Reidy.

Anna Muylaert (* 1964 in São Paulo), director and screenplay writer, produced her first feature film in 2001. “Durval Discos“, which was shown at numerous international festivals, is a slapstick-style comedy about the owner of an “old-fashioned” vinyl record shop. Her second feature film “É Proibido Fumar“ (Smoke gets in your Eyes, 2009) received eight awards at the Brasilia Film Festival.

Ilda Santiago is director of the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival and is co-founder of Estação, the most important art house distribution company in Brazil.

Eliane Trindade is script writer of "Sonhos Roubados"

Julio Uchoa produced "Chico Xavier"