Film list

[bailarinas--Film-image]
Bailarinas 2003 32'
    Directed by Heidi Lipsanen .
Majê Molê is an Afro-Brazilian dance group which offers girls and young women in Olinda, Northeast Brazil, the opportunity to rise above the poverty, drug addiction and crime that scars their
South America Dance / Theatre / Performance Gender Role and Identity Children / Young people
[barbara-and-her-friends-in-candombleland--Film-image]
Barbara and Her Friends in Candombleland 1997 52'
    Directed by Sylvie Timbert Carmen Opipari .
In the divine Afro Brazilian cult Candomble is an initiation religion centred around possession. The filmmakers concentrate on children who introduce and guide us to this world. The children play
South America Children / Young people Dance / Theatre / Performance Possession Ritual
[body-games-capoeira-and-ancestry--Film-image]
Body Games - Capoeira and Ancestry 2014 87'
    Student Directed by Richard Pakleppa Matthias Röhrig Assunção Christine Dettmann .
The film follows master Cobra Mansa and his friends in the search for the African roots of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira. A powerful myth links Capoeira to a legendary Angolan game called Engolo
South America Southern Africa Dance / Theatre / Performance Music / Ethnomusicology Festivals / Carnival
[the-body-wont-close--Film-image]
The Body Won't Close 2020 74'
    Main Competition Directed by Mattijs van de Port .
Our bodies are semi-permeable. All over the world, stories are being told about heroes who magically “close” their bodies, so as to become invincible. This film follows one such story, as it is
South America Essay film Gender Role and Identity Folklore Reflexivity
[dreamland--Film-image]
Dreamland 2001 30'
    Directed by Gema Juárez-Allen .
This film explores the dreams and frustrations of camp squatters in Rio de Janeiro State, as, supported by the MST (Landless People's Movement), they wait for permission to settle on unused land close by.
South America Squatter Settlements / Homelessness Land Rights
[healer-on-the-street--Film-image]
Healer on the Street 2003 28'
    Directed by Joceny Pinhheiro .
During the day, Isnar is a community paramedic who works in the local clinic and runs an arts and drugs rehabilitation centre for young people in Fortaleza on the coast of Northeast Brazil. But by
South America Health / Health care / Healing Ritual
[hillside-beauties--Film-image]
Hillside Beauties 2008 25'
    Directed by Julia Kurc .
In a violent, marginalized and discriminated environment such as the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, women create a time and a space to construct their identities and their beauty. Marcella, Thuany and
South America Gender Role and Identity Socioeconomic conditions
[the-kayapo--Film-image]
The Kayapo 1987 52'
    Directed by Michael Beckham .
This film focuses on the conflicts and determination of a group of people trying to survive and maintain their ethnic identity in the face of almost overpowering odds. The film contrasts the
South America Land Rights Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Political Activists Resistance Social Conflict
[the-kayapo-out-of-the-forest--Film-image]
The Kayapo: Out of the Forest 1989 52'
    Directed by Michael Beckham .
Early in 1989 the Kayapo rallied other Brazilian Indians to attend a reunification of the tribes at Altamira«the proposed site of a massive hydro-electric dam, that will flood large parts of the
South America Land Rights Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Resistance Film / Photography / Mass media Political Activists Social Conflict
[knots-and-holes-an-essay-film-on-the-life-of-nets--Film-image]
Knots and Holes. An Essay Film on the Life of Nets. 2018 74'
    Special Interest Directed by Mattijs van de Port .
A singular anthropological essay film that observes the various nets we find across different contexts in Bahia (from fishing nets to delicate nets of lace), and the emotions and sensations
South America Essay film Reflexivity Love
[the-mehinacu--Film-image]
The Mehinacu 1974 52'
    Directed by Carlos Pasini .
The Mehinacu live near the head-waters of the River Xingu in Central Brazil, in a single village within the protective confines of the Xingu National Park. Although the film concentrates upon the
South America Social Organisation Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Collective / Community identity Ritual
[the-possibility-of-spirits--Film-image]
The Possibility of Spirits 2016 72'
  Directed by Mattijs van de Port .
What is it that you film when you film a spirit? I was brought up to believe that spirits do not exist. Years of research on an afro-Brazilian spirit possession cult taught me the limits of such
South America Essay film Religion / Belief / Faith Reflexivity
[the-storyteller--Film-image]
The Storyteller 1990 50'
    Student Directed by John Paul Davidson .
Unaware of the written word until the 1950s, the Waura tribe who live in the headwaters of the Xingu river in Brazil still practise the art of storytelling. Tribal storyteller Aruta recounts one of
South America Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Dance / Theatre / Performance Religion / Belief / Faith
[tabom-in-bahia--Film-image]
Tabom in Bahia 2017 52'
  Directed by Juan Diego Diaz Nilton Pereira .
There is a small community in Ghana who identify as Brazilians. Their name is the Tabom. They are the descendants of former enslaved Africans and creoles who resettled from Bahia to Ghana during the
South America West Africa Music / Ethnomusicology Collective / Community identity Memory Migration Popular Culture Race / Racism / Antiracism Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage
[tenondei-a-beautiful-future--Film-image]
Tenonde’i - a Beautiful Future 2008 30'
  Directed by Nadja Marin .
In a village inside the world’s fifth largest and tough city, São Paulo, a young Guaraní created a children’s choir to raise money for his community. Filled with beautiful sounds, the film is a
South America Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Children / Young people
[transfiction--Film-image]
Transfiction 2007 58'
  Directed by Johannes Sjøberg .
Transfiction explores 'ethnofiction' - an experimental ethnographic documentary film style in which the participants collaborate with the filmmaker to act out their own and others' life experiences
South America Reflexivity Film / Photography / Mass media Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality LGBTQI* Ethnofiction
[umbanda--Film-image]
Umbanda 1977 52'
    Directed by Stephen Cross .
Umbanda is a syncretic religious movement, combining elements from orthodox Catholicism with submerged African and indigenous Indian spiritual beliefs. In spite of past attempts to suppress it,
South America Possession Health / Health care / Healing Religion / Belief / Faith Ritual