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Petrobras Announces Investment of R$ 100 Million to Boost Brazilian Cinema and Expand Access to Audiovisual in the Country.
Petrobras announced that it will invest R$ 100 million in the audiovisual sector until 2027. The announcement was made last Thursday (10/02/2025) during a ceremony at the Cinemateca of the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro.
The goal is to encourage national productions, support the maintenance of movie theaters, and ensure the holding of traditional festivals in the country.
The investment comes at a symbolic moment: the celebration of 30 years of the so-called revival of Brazilian cinema.
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Petrobras and the New Cycle of Support for Audiovisual
The package of resources will be allocated to the production and distribution of films and series, as well as sponsorship for events like the Gramado Festival (RS), the Tiradentes Film Festival (MG), the Bonito Cine Sur (MS), and the Gostoso Film Festival (RN).
According to Milton Bittencourt, the state’s cultural sponsorship manager, the initiative has a clear purpose:
“Our commitment is to strengthen Brazilian cinema, ensuring that it continues to tell the stories of the country, engaging with the present and projecting the future.”
This investment reinforces Petrobras’s strategic role as one of the largest financiers of audiovisual in Brazil.
30 Years of the Revival of Brazilian Cinema
The ceremony also celebrated the 30 years of the so-called “revival of Brazilian cinema.” This movement began in 1995 with the film Carlota Joaquina, Princess of Brazil, directed by Carla Camurati.
The production marked the re-connection of the audience with movie theaters after a period of crisis in the sector caused by the closure of Embrafilme and the lack of public policies in the 1990s.
Over these three decades, Petrobras has sponsored more than 600 national productions, including feature films, shorts, and documentaries.
Many of these titles have become references in Brazil and abroad, such as City of God, Carandiru, Bacurau, and The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho — a Cannes winner and Brazil’s Oscar nominee.
Public Figures Highlight the Importance of Investment
During the meeting, which brought together figures from the audiovisual sector, filmmaker Marina Person highlighted the impact of the sponsorship:
“There would not be 30 years of history and 600 films made possible without consistent support like that of Petrobras. It is an investment that not only strengthens production but also the cultural identity of the country.”
Actor Rodrigo Santoro also participated in the ceremony and shared personal memories of his journey linked to the state company, as his father worked there. He took the opportunity to advocate for cultural support:
“There is a lot of prejudice regarding the Rouanet Law and cultural sponsorship. A stigma has been created, but it is necessary to understand the importance of this funding. Without this support, many of the films we celebrate today would never have existed.”
Audiovisual as a Tool for Identity and Diversity
Distributors Silvia Cruz from Vitrine Filmes recalled the impact of the Petrobras Vitrine Session project, which brings national productions to over 20 Brazilian cities with affordable ticket prices:
“Thanks to this support, we managed to distribute both releases and restored works, reaching audiences that otherwise would not have contact with these films.”
Producer Flávio R. Tambellini highlighted the importance of the partnership for the making of the feature Malês, directed by Antonio Pitanga:
“It was a long and challenging process. Petrobras’s support was essential to bring this work that recovers the history of black resistance in Brazil to reality.”
Cultural Investment Shaping the Future of Brazilian Cinema
With the promise of R$ 100 million allocated to audiovisual by 2027, Petrobras reaffirms its central role in preserving memory and expanding Brazilian cinema.
More than just financing productions, the investment strengthens the cultural identity of the country, values the diversity of stories, and ensures that the public continues to have access to quality national production.
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Uma pessoa reagiu a isso.