Brazilian Cinema shines in Los Angeles

The Opening Night of the 3rd LABRFF captured all the attentions to The Landmark Theatre

If there was ever a night of excitement and zealous spirit, Tuesday night at the Landmark in the Westside Pavilion was such a night! What energy radiated from the lights and cameras! What glorious people! The opening night of the 3rd Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival was a hit! This festival is unique to Los Angeles and is an opportunity that one would not want to miss—Brazilian films galore! Brazilian cinema is modern and quite a “bossa nova” in this age.

Many prominent directors of Hollywood come to this festival to scout the raw talent that graces the screens. Brazilian films have taken flight these last few years, popular for their creative and one-of-a-kind cinematography. On the red carpet Tuesday night, celebrities stood in anticipation, waiting to view the Brazilian creations. Dr. Rey, from Hollywood’s 90210 showed up in a dapper dress suit jacket full of passion for his home country. He praises the Brazilian culture and this culture will be seen inside the Landmark cinema all this week.

Actress Julia Almeida, in a floral black and white Marc Jacobs dress, praised the floor in her first appearance at LABRFF. She was “happy to be here” and ecstatic at the thought of viewing movies in Portuguese! Ash, the director of the American independent film “Bang” (1995), made a gratifying appearance at the festival, and could not contain his emotions because he was so “engrossed” as it was his first time too and thinks Brazil has “an interesting history of cinema.” Very true! Brazil’s cinema is unlike that of the United States.

For many who have seen Brazilian films, they are more creative, unpredictable, and give a thrill and rush to those who view it. Even Ash agrees that seeing a Brazilian film takes you to the other world of magical surrealism, as it seduces the viewer and draws them away from the world of worry. Other important contacts in the industry including Damien Lichtenstein (3000 Miles), Denise del Cueto (guest relations) and renowned director, Fernando Meirelles (City of God, Blindness) also attended Opening Night, which kicked off a week full of Brazilian screenings – feature films, short films, and documentaries – that is sure to leave a lasting impact on Hollywood, the center and trademark of Los Angeles!