BRICS Film Festival Kicks Off in Fortaleza, Showcasing Global South Cinema

Fortaleza Becomes Hub for BRICS Cinema

The BRICS Film Festival is set to commence on December 4th, 2025, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, transforming the city into a vibrant center for cinematic exchange from the Global South. Running until December 7th, the festival will offer a diverse program of films and activities, all with free admission, at the Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture (MinC) through its Secretariat of Audiovisual (SAV), the event is co-realized by the Organização dos Estados Ibero-Americanos para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura (OEI), with institutional support from the Government of the State of Ceará and the City of Fortaleza.

Seven Nations, Sixteen Films

This year's festival will feature cinematic productions from seven participating countries:

• Brazil
• China
• India
• South Africa
• Russia
• Indonesia
• United Arab Emirates

A total of 16 films, encompassing long and short features, fiction, documentary, and animation, all released from 2023 onwards, will be screened. The opening ceremony on December 4th will include the screening of the Brazilian long-feature film 'Morte e Vida Madalena' by director Guto Parente.

Extensive Program and Parallel Events

Beyond film screenings, the festival's program is rich with opportunities for engagement and professional development. Attendees can participate in:

• Panels
• Institutional meetings with audiovisual authorities from member countries
• Workshops
• Roundtables

The event runs concurrently with the Mercado das Indústrias Criativas do Brasil (MICBR) + Ibero-Américas, fostering broader dialogue and integration across creative industries.

Strengthening Cultural Ties and Global South Audiovisual

The BRICS Film Festival serves as a crucial platform for reinforcing cultural cooperation among countries of the Global South. It aims to promote diversity, stimulate co-productions, and strengthen the audiovisual sector as a tool for dialogue and development. The Brazilian edition of the festival in 2025 is a key initiative under Brazil's Pro Tempore Presidency of BRICS, demonstrating the country's commitment to international cultural relations. This marks the second time Brazil has hosted the festival since its inception in 2016, with the first occasion being in 2019 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, is expected to attend the official opening. Joelma Gonzaga, Secretary of Audiovisual, emphasized that 'the opening of the Festival consolidates Brazil's presence in leading a strategic cultural agenda for the Global South.'