Gramado to Prize Selton Mello, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Bow ‘Antártida’

As Brazil’s explosion on the Oscar and A-Fest scene turns its top actors into international stars, two of its biggest breakouts, “I’m Not Here” co-lead Selton Mello and “The Secret Agent” star María Fernanda Cândido, will be honored at Brazil’s Gramado Film Festival, bringing the aura of burgeoning international renown to one of the country’s oldest and biggest film events.

Taking place in a mountain resort famed for its Alpine-style architecture, snow, chocolate shops and fondue restaurants, the 54th edition of Brazil’s Gramado Film Festival will fittingly open with a world premiere that again contrasts with the country’s tropical image: “Antártida” (“Antarctic”), set at a South Pole base.  

Produced by Brazilian media giant Globo, “Antártida” is helmed by Bruno Safadi, a director on breakout TV series “Aruanas.” It is penned by Claudia Jovin, one of Brazil’s hottest up-and-coming scribes after lead writing Globoplay 2025 smash hit “Perfect Days.”   

Six Brazilian features will compete in Gramado for the main Kikito prize, five of them world premieres, also taking in “Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem,” “Justino – Nos Bastidores do Reino,” “Leite em Pó,” “Nosso Segredo” and “Pele de Rinoceronte.” The sixth, “Gugu’s World” (“Feito Pipa”), won best film at Berlin’s Generation KPlus this year.

Running Aug. 12-22, Gramado will close with Chilean Dominga Sotomayor’s “La Perra,” well received at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and co-produced by top Brazilian company RT Features. 

Four features vie for Gramado’s documentary Kikito: “Afrontosa,” by Coraci Ruiz and Julio Matos; “Empeleitada,” from Micaele Xukuru, Chico Ludermir and Sergio Borges; “Gonzaguinha, da Maior Liberdade,” directed by Susanna Lira; and “O Projeto,” helmed by Sabrina Fidalgo and Yvan Rodic.

Gramado will also stage the awaited Brazilian premiere “Emergência 53” Episode 1, a Conspiração production for Globoplay from two driving forces of Globo’s small hit “Under Pressure.“ Andrucha Waddington and Cláudio Torres. At a time of gathering TV artistic caution stood out at this year’s Berlinale Series Market for its boldness, the mobile emergency medical unit procedural winning the event’s first Studio Babelsberg Production Excellence Award for outstanding creative projects that combine artistic ambition with international potential.

Actresses Ana Flavia Cavalcanti and Camila Morgado and film critic Marcos Santuario served as curators of this year’s fest’s selection.

A Globo telenovela child star who went on to headline multiple Brazilian movies, Mello played the role of father Rubens Paiva in “I’m Still Here,” the first Portuguese-language Brazilian feature to win an Academy Award, in addition to to making a splash on Brazil’s arthouse scene directing “The Clown” and “The Movie of My Life.” 

Cândido is known internationally for her roles in Marco Bellocchio’s “The Traitor” “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” and “The Secret Agent,” which scored four Oscar-nominations, an all-time record for Brazil.

President of the Brazilian Film Academy, producer Renata Almeida Magalhães (“Favela Gay”) will receive the Eduardo Abelin Trophy. Andrea Beltrão, nominated for an Intl. Emmy Award for her performance in “Hebe,” will take home the Oscarito Trophy. Actor, screenwriter and director Marcos Caruso (“Brazil Avenue”) will be honored with the City of Gramado Trophy.

The Gramado Film Festival is organized by Gramadotur, the tourism and culture authority of Gramado Town Hall. The 40,000-inhabitant mountain resort town liesin Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state. It has a distinctly Bavarian feel, reflecting the influx of German settlers in the 19th century.

Rosa Helena Volk, president of Gramadotur, stressed the fact that all feature films in the competitive sections this year will offer audio description and Brazilian Sign Language interpretation and subtitles.

A closer look at some of the festival’s major films:

Opening Film

“Antártida” stars Andrea Beltrão, Marina Ruy Barbosa, Leandra Leal, Antonio Calloni, Lázaro Ramos and João Vitor Silva. The pic was lensed in Globo’s modern studios in Rio, with technology that simulated sequences in Antarctica. It turns on Inês, who is assaultedat a Brazilian South Pole base with scientists and military personnel, turning all the men into suspects. Deputy commander Elisabeth leads an investigation to find the perpetrator. Paris Filmes will release “Antártida” in local theaters on Sept. 17.

“I come from auteur cinema, but I had the opportunity to make a major production with all the resources and time we needed,” Safadi said in the ceremony for the fest’s lineup announcement.

“It took me nine years to see this project come to life. What was missing was the technology. I can’t wait to feel the warmth of the audience,” said Jouvin.

Main Competition Films:

“Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem” (Hugo Prata and Felipe Novaes) depicts the life of Chorão, the frontman of local pop group Charlie Brown Jr. José Loreto and Nanda Marques star in the pic that is produced by Bravura Cinematográfica in co-production with Globo Filmes.

“Justino – Nos Bastidores do Reino” (José Eduardo Belmonte). Set in 1980s Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s and produced by Mercado Filmes. Vet Belmonte helms the film that stars Christian Malheiros, Antonio Pitanga and Caio Blat. In the story, the protagonist finds in a powerful neo-Pentecostal church an opportunity to escape poverty.

“Leite em Pó” (Carlos Segundo). Produced by O Sopro do Tempo, Vitrine Filmes and Les Valseurs, the story of a rock-obsessed musician whose life falls apart after family loss. The cast includes Vinicius de Oliveira, Antonio Pitanga, Zezita Matos and Rejane Faria.

“Nosso Segredo” (Grace Passô). Produced by Entre Filmes, co-production by Globo Filmes, the story of a family’s attempt to rebuild its routine following a recent loss. The movie stars Robert Frank, Efraim Santos, Jéssica Gaspar, Flip and Ju Colombo.

“Pele de Rinoceronte” (Marcello Ludwig Maia). 1970s-set and starring Débora Falabella as a reporter for a popular newspaper whose life changes following a murder that shocked Brazil. The drama also features Naruna Costa and Irandhir Santos. República Pureza produced the pic, in co-production with Canal Brasil and Telecine. “‘Pele de Rinoceronte’ is a deeply personal story that addresses what I see as a major issue in Brazil: violence against women,” Maia said.

“Gugu’s World” (“Feito Pipa,”Allan Deberton) centers one a boy who dreams of becoming a great soccer player. Raised by his grandmother, he fears having to move back in with his father. Starring Lázaro Ramos, Yuri Gomes and Teca Pereira and produced by Deberton Filmes and Biônica Filmes (“Charcoal,” “Toll”).