The opening ceremony of the 4th BRICS Film Festival took place on Wednesday, 2 October at 8:00 pm, at Cine Arte UFF, Niterói, after the opening of the historic film equipment exhibition Film Technology: from amateur to professional. The event brought together the main representatives of the BRICS film industries and University and government authorities. About an hour before the ceremony began, the façade of the UFF Arts Center building was lighted in green, blue, orange, red, and yellow, to represent Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, respectively.
The coordinators of the Festival, Professor India Mara Martins and Professor Rafael de Luna, opened the ceremony with a speech emphasizing the size of the event, the obstacles faced, and the learning experience provided by hosting an international festival in the current scenario. “We are extremely proud to host this festival with a team of professors, technical staff members, and students from a federal public university. Our public universities are a source of pride for all of us Brazilians,” stated Prof. Rafael de Luna, at the end of his speech, after which he presented a video preview of the films to be screened throughout this week.
Next, the Secretary of Finance of Niterói, Giovanna Victer, representing the Mayor of Niterói, Rodrigo Neves, delivered a speech highlighting the city’s investments in the audiovisual sector and the city’s hospitality. Representing the Special Secretariat of Culture of the Ministry of Citizenship, sponsor of the Festival, the Secretary of Audiovisual Affairs, Ricardo Fadel Rihan, addressed the importance of Brazilian film productions and the significant investments of the Brazilian Film Agency (ANCINE) in the audiovisual sector over the last 10 years.
The Rector of the Fluminense Federal University, Antônio Cláudio Lucas da Nóbrega, delivered the final speech, highlighting the milestone that hosting the 4th BRICS Film Festival represents for the University. He also mentioned the pioneering spirit of the UFF Film School, the oldest functioning film school in Brazil, and stressed how important the partnership with the City Government of Niterói is, as it will enable the completion of the new building of the Institute of Art and Media, on the Gragoatá campus.
After the opening ceremony, attendees were invited to watch a passinho performance by a group of young dancers to the sound of funk classics on the porch of the UFF Arts Center building.
The 4th BRICS Film Festival continues until 9 October.
Visit www.bricsfilmfestival.com.br and check out the full schedule.