James Gray’s crime drama ‘Paper Tiger’ is set to open the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival on Oct. 14.
Pic, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it vied for the Palme d’Or, stars an A-list cast led by Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller.
Gray will also be present to receive the festival’s Leon Cakoff Award and where a retrospective of his body of work has been programmed.
Paper Tiger is produced by São Paulo-based RT Features in partnership with Leone Film Group and Keep Head Productions. RT Features has produced earlier works by Gray, including “Ad Astra” and “Armageddon Time.” It is also behind such Oscar-winning dramas as “Call Me By Your Name” and “I’m Still Here.”
The story follows two brothers who, in their pursuit of the American dream, become entangled in a dangerous operation that pulls them deep into a world of corruption and violence. As they find themselves targeted by the Russian mafia, the brothers’ once-unbreakable bond begins to fracture, pushing them toward a betrayal neither could have imagined.
Said Rodrigo Teixeira, producer and founder of RT Features: “This will be the first official screening of ‘Paper Tiger’ in Brazil and it is a great pleasure to present a film that is so important to RT’s history, directed by a great partner, James Gray, whom I have built a relationship throughout my career.”
“Watching Miles (Teller), Adam (Driver) and Scarlett (Johansson) deliver the performances of their careers was wonderful and I am very excited for audiences to experience this film as the opening selection of the festival, which has shaped the cinephilia of so many people,” he added.
Drama is distributed in Brazil by Diamond Films, whose general manager Vinicius Pagin commented: “It is an honor for Diamond Films to open the São Paulo International Film Festival for the fourth time in the past five years, especially in this historic edition, which celebrates the festival’s 50th anniversary. “
“Opening the festival with a film of international reach and a Brazilian signature reinforces Diamond Films’ commitment to bringing audiences outstanding independent films while highlighting the country’s talent.”
“Paper Tiger” will have commercial screenings during the festival, which will take place in São Paulo from October 15 to 29.
The 50th São Paulo International Film Festival is sponsored by Petrobras, which, through the Petrobras Cultural Program, under the Federal Culture Incentive Law, supports culture as one of the driving forces of the country’s economy, as well as Brazilian cinema and the importance of film festivals.
This year’s festival is also sponsored by Itaú, Spcine, and the São Paulo City Government, with institutional support from Sesc and funding from ProAC (the Cultural Action Program of the Government of the State of São Paulo), through the Secretariat of Culture, Creative Economy and Industry.