This year, Brazil has been designated as the official country of honor at the Marché du Film, the renowned Cannes film market. This recognition underscores the growing prominence of Brazilian cinema on the international stage.

Currently, Brazilian cinema is experiencing a remarkable surge, bolstered by the global acclaim of Walter Salles’ political drama I’m Still Here, which is nominated for three Oscars this weekend: Best International Feature, Best Actress for lead Fernanda Torres, and Best Film.

The Brazilian film industry will have a robust presence at the Marché, taking place from May 13 to May 21 during the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Key industry figures will participate in events and panels aimed at enhancing international collaborations and broadening the global reach of Brazilian storytelling.

In exciting news for attendees, Brazil will also host the Marché’s official opening night party at the Plage des Palmes on May 13.

Brazilian cinema has been a consistent presence at Cannes over the decades, dating back to 1962 when Anselmo Duarte’s religious drama The Given Word won the Palme d’Or. Recent Brazilian entries in the Cannes competition include Karim Aïnouz’s 2024 erotic thriller Motel Destino, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s social drama Aquarius (2016), and the neo-Western Bacurau, co-directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles, which won the jury prize in 2019.

“Brazil has always had a strong presence in international cinema, especially at Cannes,” stated Joelma Gonzaga, Secretary of Audiovisual Affairs at Brazil’s Ministry of Culture. “This is consistently reflected at the Marché du Film, and being the country of honor in 2025 further cements and amplifies this partnership. It’s a unique opportunity to expand our connections, strengthen dialogues, and showcase the diversity and creativity of Brazilian cinema.”

“Brazil is a highly creative country with a vibrant film industry,” added Marché executive director Guillaume Esmiol. “We’ve seen a steady increase in the number of Brazilian professionals at Cannes, with a remarkable 26 percent growth last year alone. The significance of the Brazil-France Season makes this partnership a symbol of the global strength of the Brazilian film industry and its strong ties with Cannes.”

This recognition at the Marché coincides with the 200th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between Brazil and France, celebrated throughout the year with the cultural initiative Saison Brésil-France (Brazil-France Season). Brazil’s culture minister Margareth Menezes emphasized that the Cannes market events would further strengthen “the cultural and artistic ties between our two nations.”

Brazil’s participation at the Marché du Film will be organized in collaboration with Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, the Instituto Guimarães Rosa, and the Embassy of Brazil in Paris. The program will include exclusive film and documentary showcases, networking events, and presentations of new international co-production initiatives, with more details to be announced in the coming months.

Following in the footsteps of Switzerland (2024), Spain (2023), and India (2022), Brazil is honored to receive the country of honor designation, an initiative by the Marché du Film to recognize a nation’s contributions to the global film industry.

Persons

Fernanda Torres, Walter Salles, Joelma Gonzaga, Guillaume Esmiol, Margareth Menezes

Company Names

Instituto Guimarães Rosa

Titles

I’m Still Here, The Given Word, Motel Destino, Aquarius, Bacurau

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