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not be allowed. Streaming itself will suffer if movie theatres disappear, along with the collective audience experience.” One other big challenge is reaching audiences. In a country where television has long been the dominant form of storytelling and has an overwhelming presence, cinema struggles to compete on an equal footing. “The challenge is threefold,” Aïnouz observes. “First, we need to build a more accessible and democratic network of cinemas – improving distribution and exhibition so going to the movies is not an elite experience. There is already a strong foundation for production, but gaps in distribution and exhibition need significant attention. For instance, ticket prices often make cinema inaccessible to many and that imbalance needs to be addressed.” Secondly, Aïnouz contends that the idea of what production can be should be broadened. “It is not only about the traditional feature film. There are other formats worth exploring, such as shorter series and episodic storytelling, which open up exciting creative possibilities. “Finally, there is the question of financing and sustainability. We need to think about mechanisms like taxing streaming platforms, so they contribute more directly to local production. That
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INVEST IN new filmmakers AND IN A diversity of productions ”
and faced recent threats to democracy, maintaining active cultural production is a way of sustaining it,” says Duarte. “Cinema is a vital part of a country’s identity. When policies weaken this sector, not only does the economy suffer, so does culture.” According to Torres, the biggest issues facing filmmakers are the same as always: “Producing good stories, raising funds, establishing a sustainable industry, protecting independent cinema and creating laws that ensure support for national production – all at a time when fewer people are going to movie theatres. This is a habit that needs to be preserved. “Streaming platforms have entered film production, but they provide limited theatrical release windows that should
“Today, many directors and producers still face considerable challenges,” says Duarte. “Filmmaking is always complex, but here the process can take years, and projects often fail to materialise. We have many talented professionals with original ideas who encounter barriers getting projects off the ground. For this reason, it is essential to invest in new filmmakers and in a diversity of productions, not only those aimed at major awards. The more diverse the cinema, the richer the industry becomes. The audio-visual sector generates employment, income and drives the economy. It is not a favour from the government, but a relevant productive sector.” There is also a fundamental cultural dimension. “In a country like Brazil, which has experienced a military dictatorship
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