Netflix showcased four highly anticipated films at this year’s São Paulo International Film Festival, known as Mostra SP, including Guillermo del Toro’s epic Frankenstein. The festival, held in São Paulo, Brazil, provided a significant platform for del Toro’s film, which aligns with the festival’s spirit of bold and diverse storytelling. The event also featured Latin American premieres for Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Left-Handed Girl, plus the world premiere of Daniel Rezende’s The Son of a Thousand Men, starring Rodrigo Santoro.
Netflix Elevates Brazilian Festival With Key Premieres
Netflix’s participation in the Mostra SP marks its strongest engagement since partnering with the festival. Elisabetta Zenatti, Netflix’s Vice President of Content for Brazil, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in expanding the reach of Brazilian and international cinema. The selection of four films – blending globally recognized names and fresh voices – underscores Netflix’s commitment to making impactful content accessible to Latin American audiences.
“This is our strongest participation since we started our partnership with Mostra,”
said Elisabetta Zenatti, VP of content for Brazil.
Guillermo del Toro Reflects on Frankenstein’s Brazilian Debut
Guillermo del Toro expressed enthusiasm about premiering Frankenstein at the Mostra SP, noting the festival’s vibrant energy and embrace of both established and emerging filmmakers. He sees this environment as particularly suited to the themes of his film, which explores identity and “otherness” within the context of fathers and sons. Del Toro emphasized the meaningfulness of presenting the film to Brazilian audiences, who he believes will connect deeply with its message.
“The festival has this crazy, bold energy, embracing both the big names and emerging voices. It is a space that celebrates cinema in its full breadth and that resonates deeply with ‘Frankenstein,’ which is a story about reclaiming your identity – your ‘otherness.’ It is a very meaningful stage and I look forward to seeing how this film about Fathers and Sons connects with Brazilians,”
said Guillermo del Toro.
Other Film Highlights Include Latin American and World Premieres
Alongside Frankenstein, the festival hosted the Latin American premieres of two additional Netflix productions. Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, which debuted at Venice, stars George Clooney as a renowned actor seeking to rediscover himself, aided by his loyal manager Ron, played by Adam Sandler. This film offers a nuanced look at fame and personal reinvention.
Shih-Ching Tsou’s Left-Handed Girl, co-written by Sean Baker of Anora fame, also had its Latin American premiere. The story follows a single mother and her two daughters who relocate to Taipei to start a night market stall. As they adjust to their new environment, the youngest daughter faces restrictions from her strict grandfather about using her left hand, exposing deep family secrets and tensions.
The festival also served as the venue for the world premiere of The Son of a Thousand Men (O Filho de Mil Homens), directed by Daniel Rezende and starring Rodrigo Santoro. The film’s premiere was accompanied by a roundtable discussion featuring Santoro, Rezende, and Netflix Brazil’s head of films, Higia Ikeda, focused on Brazilian cinematic creativity.
The film centers on Crisóstomo, a solitary fisherman yearning for a son whose life changes after he takes in Camilo, a young orphan. Their journey intertwines with Isaura, who is fleeing her past, and Antonino, a lonely outsider, collectively redefining the meaning of family and connection.
The Renaissance of Brazilian Cinema on the Global Stage
Guillermo del Toro highlighted the continuous renewal and vibrancy of Brazilian cinema, emphasizing how new filmmakers are finding fresh ways to tell stories without losing cultural authenticity. He sees Brazil reclaiming its place as a leader in global film conversation, with its productions renowned for diversity, political insight, poetic expression, and human depth.
“Brazilian cinema is constantly rebirthing itself. There has always been enormous vitality, generation after generation of filmmakers and now – right now – it is finding new voices, new ways of engaging with the world without losing its unique cultural roots, and this is being increasingly recognized all over the world,”
said Guillermo del Toro. He added,
“I feel Brazil is regaining a role – it’s becoming a protagonist again in the global cinema conversation: Brazilian film is and has always been- diverse, political, poetic and profoundly human.”
Netflix Award Supports Emerging Brazilian Filmmakers
Netflix’s support for Brazilian cinema extends beyond premieres, with the Netflix Award spotlighting outstanding independent Brazilian films. Now in its third year, the award promotes original voices in Brazilian fiction and strengthens the national audiovisual ecosystem by acquiring global distribution rights for the winning film, making it available in over 190 countries.
“By valuing Brazilian cinema, we open doors for our talent and share our stories with the world, which in turn strengthens the whole national audiovisual ecosystem,”
said Elisabetta Zenatti.
Previous recipients of this award include Haroldo Borges’ Bittersweet Rain in 2023 and Lírio Ferreira’s Serra das Almas in 2024. Netflix first joined Mostra in 2018 with Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma and has since staged notable premieres such as Bradley Cooper’s Maestro in 2023 and multiple original productions in 2024 including the U.S. film Piano Lesson, Mexico’s Pedro Páramo, and the Brazilian limited series Children of the Church Steps.
Impact of Netflix Distribution on Brazilian Films and Audiences
Director Haroldo Borges spoke on the importance of streaming for Brazilian independent films, which traditionally depend on word of mouth to build audiences. The global exposure provided by Netflix allows these stories to reach international viewers, cultivating appreciation for regional culture and inspiring further creative output.
“Brazilian independent cinema has always relied on word of mouth to reach audiences. Having ‘Saudade Fez Morada Aqui Dentro’ on Netflix makes that word of mouth possible,”
said Haroldo Borges, director of Bittersweet Rain.
As a filmmaker from the Brazilian Northeastern region, Borges noted the pride in seeing local dialects, landscapes, and ways of life portrayed globally, fueling the desire to create more films that occupy space on screens worldwide.
He added,
“Since the film premiered on Netflix, international consumption has led to several interesting moments. An edited cut from the film became a trend on social media with millions of views and interactions. [Actress] Wilma Macedo received countless love notes from fans in Turkey. The French actor who dubbed Ronny [actor Ronnaldy Gomes] went on social media after the film’s success in France to present himself, and he and Ronny actually became friends after that. We’ve received thousands of heartfelt messages. It’s genuine joy to feel represented and seen. In the film, we show a diverse sertão, full of our music styles – like piseiro, paredão, forró. It’s the pure essence of Bahia’s sertão.”
Looking Ahead: The Growing Influence of Brazilian Stories
With Netflix’s growing involvement and international distribution, Brazilian cinema is poised to gain even greater global attention. By showcasing a diverse lineup at Mostra SP and promoting independent films through its award, Netflix is broadening pathways for Brazilian filmmakers to share their unique narratives worldwide. The success of these premieres and strategic support signals a strengthening of cultural exchange and creative collaboration in the years to come.
