Brazil at the Cannes Film Festival: remember the films that were shown at the event

Participating in film events is always a great stage to showcase productions that sometimes don't have much space in commercial cinema. Brazil in Cannes film festival has many of these stories to tell, with representatives who, over time, have become cult classics, both in national cinema and for the event itself. Understand, in this text, what is Cannes film festival and Brazil's participation there.

What are the Cannes Film Festival prizes?

Created in 1946, the Cannes film festival is one of the most traditional events in world cinema. It takes place annually in the French city of the same name and focuses mainly on auteur cinema, with the screening of new films that have not yet been released in their countries of origin. Over the years, the festival has established itself as a space for visibility for filmmakers from different countries, bringing together newcomers and well-known names in the industry.

The main exhibition of the event is the Official Competition, which selects around 20 feature films to compete for the palm d'or, the festival's top prize. The jury for this category is made up of film professionals — directors, screenwriters, actors and producers — invited by the organization. In addition to the Palme d'Or, the following are awarded: Grand Prix (second most important award), the Jury Prize, the awards of best direction, best script, best female performance e best male performance.

Alongside the Official Competition, there are other sections with different objectives. The Un Certain Regard, for example, brings together films with narrative or visual proposals that differ from the standard of the main exhibition. Cinéfondation is aimed at short and medium-length films made by film school students, while Critic's Week and Filmmakers' Fortnight They function as independent exhibitions within the program, with their own curators. The awards in these sections are defined by separate juries.

The Secret Agent will compete for the Palme d'Or in 2025

Brazil returns to the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival with The Secret Agent, new feature film by Kleber Mendonça Son. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 78th edition of the festival, which takes place between May 13 and 24, 2025. The confirmation was made by the event's organizers in Paris.

The plot is set in the 1970s and follows Marcelo, a university professor who flees São Paulo for Recife after becoming the target of persecution by the military regime. Starring: Wagner Moura, the film mixes elements of suspense and political drama, with Recife as the central setting. This will be the third time that a film directed by Kleber Mendonça Son participates in the main competition of Cannes, after Aquarius (2016) and Bacurau (2019)

Brazilian films at the Cannes Film Festival

Since 1949, Brazil has participated very frequently in the Cannes film festival, sometimes even taking home awards. See below all the films that represented Brazil in Cannes.

Backlands (1949)

Brazil's debut at Cannes was a short documentary that, despite its generic title, was loaded with meaning. Sertao, John G. Garden e Oswaldo Sampaio, brought to the festival a deep and arid Brazil, unknown to most Europeans at the time. The film did not compete for any awards, but it paved the way for Brazilian cinema to be noticed outside the Latin American circuit.

Caiçara (1951)

In the turbulent tide between desire and survival, caiçara is one of those films that carry the weight of silence. Directed by Adolfo Celi and written by Alberto Cavalcanti, the film delves into the trajectory of Marina, a young woman marked by the stigma of leprosy — not for having it, but for being the daughter of someone who had it.

The character agrees to marry a virtually unknown man, José Amaro, in a desperate attempt to escape prejudice. Fate takes her to Ilha Verde, an isolated and oppressive setting, where she begins to live with an absent husband and the harassment of his partner. Loneliness prevails until a new figure, the sailor Alberto, arrives on the island in search of the legendary bell stones — and ends up finding Marina.

Where to watch: YouTube

Tico-Tico in the Cornmeal (1952)

The following year, the Vera Cruz returned to the Croisette betting on a popular character: Zequinha de Abreu, composer of the classical Tico-Tico no Cornmeal. Directed again by Adolfo Celi, the film moved away from rural drama to delve into a musical biopic with a lighter and more accessible atmosphere. Although it did not win any awards, the film helped position Brazil as a country with diverse talents, also in music, and showed that our stories could resonate with the tastes of international audiences.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Outlaw (1953)

It was with the cangaço that Brazil finally stopped being just a promise in Cannes. O Cangaceiro, by Lima Barreto, combined action, regionalism and western aesthetics in a formula that won over the jury and became known as a “Brazilian western”. The tense narrative shows the universe of cangaço, centered on the gang of Galdino, a leader feared wherever he goes. The script takes shape when Olívia, a village teacher, is kidnapped during one of the group’s attacks. The film won the Best Adventure Film Award and an honorable mention for the soundtrack, becoming the first Brazilian to win an award at the festival.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Song of the Sea (1954)

Riding on the back of previous success, The Song of the Sea, Alberto Cavalcanti, returned to the Northeast as a setting, but with a more poetic approach. The film portrays the relationship between fishermen and the sea as a metaphor for the constant struggle for survival. In Cannes, it drew attention for its lyrical use of imagery and its attempt to balance realism and symbolism. Less celebrated than O Cangaceiro, the feature film, however, represented a clear attempt to maintain Brazil as a constant and respectable presence on the major festival circuit.

Where to watch: YouTube

Spell of the Amazons (1954)

Even in 1954, Amazon Spell expanded the geographical imaginary of national production, bringing the tropical forest to the screen. Directed by Zygmunt Sulistrowsky, the film focuses on a white woman who is part of an expedition to the Amazon. The plot focused more on mystery and adventure than on social criticism.

Fantastic Samba (1955)

After the backlands, the sea and the jungle, it was time for Carnival to arrive in Cannes. Fantastic Samba, short documentary by Jean Manzon, the film follows the journey of a composer in search of the ideal inspiration for his new samba. With a narrative that is built entirely through images and music, the documentary records the atmosphere of the party without dialogue or interviews, showing everything from behind the scenes to the avenue.

Under the Sky of Bahia (1956)

A story of forbidden love unfolds amidst the landscapes of Bahia, when two young people from rival tribes fall in love and defy the traditions of their people. Directed by Ernesto Remani and produced by Vera Cruz, the film delves into a plot of rivalry, desire and escape, while exploring the natural beauty of the Bahian coast. The romance, simple in essence, gains momentum with the tropical setting, which becomes a central character in the plot. It was the producer's last foray into the Cannes festival, still trying to build an image of cinematic Brazil with international appeal.

The Amnesty City (1960)

Inspired by a real case that shocked São Paulo, the film Roberto Farias follows a bank robbery that ends in kidnapping. With a constant tension and fast pace, the plot delves into an urban and violent Brazil, far removed from the rural landscapes that had dominated Brazilian cinema until then. It was one of the first films to treat crime as a social symptom, paving the way for new approaches within the crime genre.

Where to watch: YouTube

The First Mass (1961)

Directed by Lima Barreto, the film is freely inspired by the short story Nhá Colaquinha Full of Grace, Nair Lacerda. The narrative begins with the representation of the first mass in Brazil, but escapes the historical solemnity to construct an allegorical portrait of the clash of cultures. Between the sacred and the profane, the indigenous faith and the Portuguese catechesis, the film provokes the viewer to think about the construction of Brazilian identity — already tense and contradictory since its inaugural rituals.

The Promise Keeper (1962)

With The Promise Payer, Anselmo Duarte broke barriers winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes, becoming the first Brazilian film to win the festival's top prize. Adapted from the play of the same name by Dias Gomes, the feature film presents the story of Ze do Burro, a simple man from the interior of Bahia who, after promising to cure his family's animal, finds himself confronted by a series of obstacles that reveal the religious, political and social tensions of rural Brazil. The plot revolves around faith, sacrifice and the hypocrisy of society, using the rural environment to expose conflicts that transcend geographical borders.

The film takes a critical approach, not only in relation to religiosity, but also to the way in which the political class and social institutions appropriate popular faith to support their own agendas.

Where to watch: balloon play

God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun (1964)

Em God and the Devil in the Land of the Sun, Glauber Rocha explores the social and political tensions of rural Brazil through a story that blends realism with mysticism. Set in the backlands of the Northeast, the film follows Manuel, a simple man who finds himself torn between the messianism of a religious leader and the revolt of a bandit. With an innovative aesthetic, which became characteristic of New Cinema, the work stands out for its striking visual style and deep reflection on violence and oppression.

Where to watch: balloon play

Dry Lives (1964)

Adaptation of the novel by Graciliano Ramos, Dried lives is a masterpiece directed by Nelson Pereira Two saints. The film portrays the life of a family in the backlands of the Northeast, marked by relentless drought and the struggle for survival. Without resorting to great dramatizations, the film focuses on the daily difficulties of the characters, presenting a raw and realistic view of living conditions in the interior of Brazil. The work is one of the greatest examples of Brazilian realist cinema and a faithful portrait of the poverty and resilience of the people of the Northeast.

Where to watch: balloon play

Empty Night (1965)

Two men and two women wander through the early morning hours of a melancholic and artificial Rio de Janeiro. The film, directed by Walter Hugo Khouri, is an existential portrait of urban solitude. Without major events, just dialogues, silences and emptiness — a dive into the boredom and disenchantment of the Brazilian middle class in the 60s.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Hour and Turn of Augusto Matraga (1966)

Inspired by the work of Guimaraes Rosa, The Time and Turn of Augusto Matraga is a Brazilian western directed by Roberto Santos. The story follows Augusto, a man marked by his past who seeks redemption and reconciliation with his own history. Set in the backlands, the film mixes elements of regionalist literature with a narrative of adventure and morality, and stands out for the way it explores the construction of the character and the internal dilemmas he faces.

Terra em Transe (1967)

https://youtu.be/0cBDrfl6vPw

Considered one of the greatest films of Glauber Rocha, earth in trance is a work that reflects on the political and social contradictions of Brazil. In the fictional country of Eldorado, a poet and journalist experiences the collapse of national politics, amid coups, demagogy and failed utopias. Glauber Rocha mixes theater, metaphor and manifesto to construct a chaotic and feverish portrait of Brazil.

Where to watch: balloon play

The Dragon of Evil Against the Holy Warrior (1969)

Antônio das Mortes returns to the backlands, now as a vigilante hired to kill a new bandit. But the duel turns into a reflection: who is the real enemy? Glauber Rocha revisits characters from God and the Devil in a tropical western full of colors, myths and contradictions. A symbolic cry against authoritarianism — with shotguns and poetry.

Where to watch: balloon play

Crazy Azyllo (1970)

In a kind of metaphorical madhouse, the characters live between delirium and criticism. Directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, the film uses madness to talk about authoritarian Brazil after 64. It mixes comedy, improvisation and absurdity to reflect repression, but also the creative resistance of a country in crisis.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Palace of Angels (1971)

Three women transform an apartment into an erotic and political meeting point, where military men, artists and businessmen cross paths amid desires and delusions. With a script by Joseph Agrippino de Paula and direction of Walter Hugo Khouri, the film is less about the story and more about sensations, collages and provocations — almost a filmed happening.

Pindorama (1971)

Paulo Cesar Saraceni proposes a symbolic journey to “Brazil before Brazil”. Images, rituals and narratives intertwine to create a poetic reflection on the indigenous past, colonization and the search for a national identity that resists erasure. It is a cinema of evocation, where historical time and myth are confused.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Amulet of Ogun (1975)

A boy raised in Candomblé grows up among bandits and miracles in the suburbs of Rio. Combining realism and mysticism, Nelson Pereira dos Santos builds a tale about faith, survival and destiny. Religious syncretism guides the protagonist on his journey for justice — or revenge — in a city where the sacred and the profane coexist side by side.

Where to watch: YouTube

Bye Bye Brazil (1979)

Directed by Carlos Diegues, Bye Bye Brazil follows a group of itinerant artists who travel through the interior of the country in a bus, providing entertainment and observing the social and cultural changes that were taking place in Brazil in the 70s. The central plot focuses on the character Deuzú, a radio singer, and her group of artists, who are faced with the clash between the modernization that is arriving in the big cities and the cultural and economic isolation of the interior. Throughout the journey, the film reveals Brazil's transition to a more urban and globalized society, but at the same time, it criticizes the inequality between the regions of the country and the dehumanization that modernity can bring.

Where to watch: balloon play

Quilombo (1984)

Em Quilombo, Cacá Diegues portrays the struggle of black people in colonial Brazil, focusing on the Quilombo dos Palmares and Zumbi's resistance against slavery. The film brings to light the resistance of black communities and their desire for freedom, at a time when struggles for autonomy were stifled by the colonial system. The film highlights the historical importance of quilombos as spaces of resistance and identity, offering a critical view of slavery and its consequences.

Where to watch: YouTube

Memories from Prison (1984)

Based on the book by Graciliano Ramos, Memories of Prison (1984), directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, adapts the author's memories of the period in which he was imprisoned during the Brazilian military dictatorship. The film focuses on the experience of a political prisoner and the tension of his resistance to the regime. The story unfolds inside a prison, where prisoners face physical and psychological torture. The work reflects on the damage caused by repression, addressing the individual struggle against the system and the impacts of the dictatorship on the human psyche. The narrative shows how prison was not only a physical prison, but also a mental and moral prison for those who opposed the regime.

Where to watch: balloon play

We've Never Been Happier (1984)

Em We've Never Been So Happy, Murilo Salles tells the story of a father who reunites with his son after years of separation. As they try to rebuild their relationship, secrets and tensions emerge, revealing the complexities of family ties. The intimate narrative explores themes of fatherhood, identity and reconciliation.

Where to watch: AnteaterTV

Kiss of the Spider-Woman (1985)

Directed by the Argentine-Brazilian Hector Babenco, Spider-Woman's Kiss takes place mostly inside a prison cell, where two men, a political prisoner and a homosexual convicted of seducing minors, share memories, world views and life stories. The plot unfolds through the intertwining of distinct realities: the harsh political repression of the military dictatorship and the escapist daydreams inspired by classic cinema.

The film is built on a strong theatrical basis and circular narrative, in which the relationship between the characters grows while political tension infiltrates. The co-production between Brazil and the United States earned the actor William Hurt o Oscar for Best Actor.

Where to watch: balloon play

I Know I'll Love You (1986)

In an intimate and almost claustrophobic setting, the director Arnaldo Jabor proposes a meeting between a man and a woman who were once married and decide to meet for a frank conversation. The film unfolds as a long dialogue in which the couple revisits their history, their frustrations and desires, moving between affection and hurt. The work earned the Fernanda Torres the prize of Best actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

Where to watch: YouTube

Train to the Stars (1987)

With direction Cacá Diegues, the film follows the journey of Vinícius, a young musician from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro who runs away from home and sets out in search of his identity throughout the city. The plot mixes urban realism with almost dreamlike moments, showing a Rio de Janeiro fragmented between violence, dreams and the desire for freedom. Along the way, the protagonist meets characters who represent different faces of the city — from marginality to street art.

Where to watch: YouTube

Kuarup (1989)

Kuarup, roy war, follows the journey of a newly ordained priest who sets out on a mission to an indigenous region in Xingu. The film investigates the character's internal transformations throughout his coexistence with the indigenous people, as well as the conflicts that arise when trying to reconcile faith, desire and political consciousness. The narrative covers a broad time frame, going through important episodes in Brazilian history, such as the 1964 coup. The film moves between the epic and the intimate, and presents the clash between cultures and values ​​in a country in constant reconfiguration.

Where to watch: YouTube

Illuminated Heart (1998)

Em Illuminated Heart, Hector Babenco explores male subjectivity through the story of Juan, an Argentine filmmaker living in Brazil who returns to his home country after the death of his mother. After this return, the character revisits memories of his youth, especially his relationship with Ana, an enigmatic young woman. The film develops with a non-linear structure, alternating between present and past to build a portrait of the protagonist's emotional identity.

Where to watch: balloon play

Nuisance (2000)

Based on the novel by Chico Buarque, hindrance was directed by roy war and delves into the mind of a character who wanders through a collapsing city, with no defined name or identity. The protagonist, played by Jandir Ferrari, crosses urban spaces that seem to close in around it, in a logic that approaches nightmare. The film invests in a more experimental visual language, proposing a symbolic reading about alienation and social rupture.

Where to watch: YouTube

Me, You, Them (2000)

Andrucha waddington presents in Me, You, Them The story of Darlene, a country woman who lives with three men in a small community in the Northeast. The plot unfolds around the daily life of this unconventional family structure, in which affection and coexistence are put to the test by local tensions and customs.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Carandiru (2003)

Carandiru, also by Hector Babenco, adapts the doctor's book Drauzio Varella about his experience as a volunteer in the largest prison in Latin America. The film is based on accounts from different inmates, revealing their life stories before and during imprisonment. The narrative emphasizes the precariousness of the prison system and the humanity of the characters, going beyond the stereotype of the “criminal”. The tension grows until it culminates in the 1992 massacre, presented as a breaking point and an explicit criticism of state brutality. The film had a great impact and was shown out of competition at Cannes.

Where to watch: Netflix

Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Despite being a Latin American production directed by a Brazilian Walter salles, motorcycle diaries The film features Ernesto Guevara before he became “Che”. The film follows his motorcycle journey through South America alongside his friend Alberto Granado. The narrative presents Ernesto’s political awakening through his encounters with marginalized people in different countries, including Brazil. With grandiose landscapes and a focus on the protagonist’s maturation, the film is structured as a road movie about his upbringing. Although it is not exclusively Brazilian, its direction and part of the production justified its association with Brazil at the festival.

Where to watch: YouTube

Lower City (2005)

Directed by Sergio Machado, Lower City is set in the working-class neighborhoods of Salvador and revolves around the trio formed by Deco, Naldinho and Karinna. Childhood friends and owners of a transport boat, the two men find themselves emotionally shaken by the arrival of the dancer Karinna, who embarks with them on a journey through the interior of Bahia. As the three begin to share the same roof, the plot is organized around the romantic, sexual and emotional tensions that emerge from this coexistence. The raw aesthetic, the close camera and the intense performances help to build the dense atmosphere of the film, which was shown at the Un Certain Regard in Cannes.

Where to watch: balloon play

Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005)

In a backlands marked by drought and precariousness, two men cross paths: Johann, a German fleeing the war, and Ranulpho, a northeastern man with no fixed destination. Aboard a truck showing aspirin commercials, the two travel along dusty roads in the interior of Brazil in the 1940s. The film, directed by Marcelo Gomes, opts for a contained narrative, centered on dialogue and the landscape as an extension of the characters. The film's premiere at Cannes also took place at the Un Certain Regard.

Where to watch: Apple TV +, Prime Video

Blindness (2008)

Based on the work of Jose Saramago, Ensaio about Cegueira was directed by Fernando Meirelles and transformed the literary allegory into a disturbing audiovisual experience. The film depicts an unexplained epidemic of white blindness that spreads throughout a city and isolates those affected in a makeshift mental hospital. The environment deteriorates rapidly, revealing extreme behaviors in the face of the collapse of social structures. Although the story is not explicitly set in Brazil, the film is an international co-production with Brazilian direction, which guaranteed its selection in the festival's official competition.

Pass Line (2008)

Walter salles e Daniela Thomas portray the daily lives of four brothers who live with their mother in the outskirts of São Paulo. Each one tries to find his own path: whether through football, religion, studies or the streets. The absence of a father figure and social pressures shape the paths of each character. The film has an almost documentary feel, following the characters closely and giving space to silences and subtle observations of urban daily life. The performance of Sandra corveloni how her mother won the best actress award at Cannes.

Where to watch: YouTube (rent)

The Salt of the Earth (2014)

Co-signed by Wim Wenders e Juliano Ribeiro-Salgado, The Salt of the Earth is a documentary about the life and work of the Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. The film covers decades of records of conflicts, migrations and landscapes, while also following Salgado's personal trajectory. The black and white aesthetic dominates the screen, while the narration alternates between the directors, creating a bridge between generations and perspectives. It was shown at the Un Certain Regard.

Where to watch: balloon play, Prime Video

Aquarius (2016)

With direction Kleber Mendonça Son, Aquarius tells the story of Clara, a retired journalist who refuses to leave the apartment she has lived in for decades, even when faced with pressure from a construction company interested in demolishing the building. The narrative develops from this woman's resistance against the erasure of memory — both personal and collective — and raises issues such as real estate speculation, aging and autonomy. Aquarius It was shown in the official competition and generated repercussions not only because of the film, but also because of the cast's political demonstration on the red carpet.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Girl Who Danced with the Devil (2016)

the movie of John Paul Miranda Maria was shown in the short film competition at Cannes. The film is about 15 minutes long and follows a young woman in a rural community that lives under an oppressive religious tradition. Ritualistic images and expressive use of soundtrack and lighting create an atmosphere of tension and ambiguity that surrounds the character.

Cinema Novo (2016)

This documentary of Eryk Rocha - son of Glauber Rocha — investigates the cinematographic movement that transformed Brazil from the 1960s onwards. Instead of adopting a conventional expository structure, the film is constructed from archives, film excerpts and interviews with filmmakers such as Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Cacá Diegues and Joaquim Pedro de Andrade. The editing alternates between behind-the-scenes images and emblematic excerpts that reveal the aesthetic and political strength of Cinema Novo. The film won the The Eye of Gold for best documentary at the festival.

Where to watch: YouTube

Gabriel and the Mountain (2017)

https://youtu.be/NT-RvXLaL-M

Based on the true story of the Brazilian economist Gabriel Buchmann, the film of Fellipe Barbosa reconstructs the young man's last days during his trip through Africa and follows his journey through several countries on the continent. The production combines fictional elements with real testimonies from people who knew him, forming a hybrid between drama and documentary. It was awarded at the exhibition Un Certain Regard, with emphasis on direction.

Where to watch: balloon play

Rain is Singing in the Village of the Dead (2018)

Signed by joao salaviza e Renee Nader Messora, the film was made with and about the Krahô indigenous people, in Tocantins. The narrative revolves around Ihjãc, a young man who refuses to take on the role of shaman after his father's death. Based on this tension between tradition and the desire for autonomy, the film addresses mourning, rites and indigenous resistance in a world affected by external pressures. The choice of a contemplative language, with long shots and no actors, brings the viewer closer to the village's experience. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the show Un Certain Regard.

Where to watch: YouTube

The Silences (2018)

Directed by Beatriz Seigner, Los Silencios follows a Colombian mother and her two children who arrive at Fantasy Island, on the border between Brazil, Peru and Colombia, fleeing the armed conflict. The plot unfolds in this space marked by the fluidity of borders and the constant presence of the dead, who live alongside the living as if they had never left. The film was screened at the Directors' Fortnight.

Where to watch: Play Market

The Orphan (2018)

The short of Carolina Markowicz is based on the true story of a teenager rejected by his adoptive family after revealing his homosexuality. The film, which lasts about 15 minutes, focuses on the boy's time in a shelter and his desire to belong. The film was part of the Cannes short film competition and won the Queer Palm for best LGBTQIA+ short film.

Where to watch: Mubi

Nighthawk (2019)

In a fictional town in the backlands of the Northeast, the residents face the threat of a group of foreigners who intend to wipe the village off the map. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Son e Juliano Dornelles, Bacurau mixes elements of the Western, science fiction and political cinema to construct a narrative about resistance, identity and violence. The film articulates a collective as the protagonist, inverting traditional logics of genre cinema. It won the Jury Prize, one of the main films in the official Cannes competition.

Where to watch: balloon play, Prime Video (with Telecine), Apple TV +, YouTube (rental)

The Invisible Life of Eurydice Gusmão (2019)

Directed by Karim Ainouz, the film adapts the novel by Martha Batalha and tells the story of two sisters who were forcibly separated in Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s. While one is sent to a convent and the other remains at home believing that her sister abandoned her, the narrative follows their lives in parallel, marked by repression and silence. The melodrama is articulated with criticism of patriarchal society and the exclusion of women from their own destinies. Winner of the Un Certain Regard.

Where to watch: balloon play

Without Your Blood (2019)

Alice Furtado directs this feature film that mixes teenage romance with hints of fantasy. The film follows young Silvia, who experiences intense grief after the sudden death of her boyfriend. As the absence becomes unbearable, the narrative flirts with the possibility of the impossible, using grief as a bridge to the surreal. The film was shown at Directors' Fortnight.

August Sky (2021)

The short of Jasmine Tenucci is set during the pandemic and follows a nurse in São Paulo who, faced with exhaustion and the tension of her days, begins to attend neo-Pentecostal services. The narrative observes the daily life of a character in emotional suspense, capturing the moment in which she approaches a new belief system. The film was selected for the short film competition and was even nominated for the “Palme d’Or” in that category.

Sidereal (2021)

Directed by carlos segundo, Sideral Set in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, the film follows a family living near a space launch base. When the couple's wife mysteriously disappears, the film takes a twist that mixes science fiction and social criticism. The short film was shown in the Cannes short film competition and drew attention for its use of black and white.

Where to watch: balloon play

Cantareira (2021)

Filmed on the banks of the dam of the same name, in São Paulo, Stonemason, Rodrigo Ribeiro, follows a young man who tries to escape the urban chaos by returning to the community where he grew up. The short film moves between memory and displacement, showing the contrast between the city and the forest, and between the character's present and past. The work won third place in the Cinéfondation, an exhibition focused on university productions.

The Buriti Flower (2023)

De joao salaviza e Renee Nader Messora, the film is a spiritual continuation of Rain is Singing in the Village of the Dead. This time, the story focuses on the historical process of resistance of the Krahô people, bringing to light memories of massacres and expropriations, but also everyday practices and forms of care. The film combines dramatization with documentary elements and premiered at the festival Un Certain Regard.

Where to watch: Netflix

Motel Destino (2024)

With Motel Destino, Karim Ainouz returns to the official Cannes competition, this time taking the viewer to a space of desires, secrets and tension in the interior of Ceará. The film is set in a roadside motel, where Heraldo (Iago Xavier), recently released from a reformatory, crosses paths with Dayana (Nataly Rocha) and Elijah (Fábio assunção), the enigmatic owner of the place. The dynamics between the three become increasingly tense, revealing conflicts of power and identity as the plot delves into themes such as violence, desire and exclusion. The film received 12 minutes of applause at the festival.

Where to watch: Prime Video (Telecine), balloon play, Apple TV +

Baby (2024)

Directed by Marcelo Caetano, Toddler was selected for the parallel exhibition of Critic's Week. The film follows the life of a young man from the outskirts of the city who, between sexual encounters, street life and family conflicts, tries to forge his own path. The film seeks to represent queer youth authentically and without filters, starting from an urban, sensual and colorful aesthetic.

Where to watch: Apple TV +

Yellow (2024)

Short of André Hayato Saito, Yellow was selected for the official short film competition at Cannes. The narrative revolves around the experience of a young Asian-Brazilian who has to deal with grief and the symbolic violence of racism. The story is told in a sensitive and direct way, with an aesthetic that mixes naturalism and artifice.

Chronicle of an Industrialist (selection cancelled due to censorship)

With a strong experimental character, the feature film Luiz Rosemberg Jr. It focused on the moral and symbolic collapse of a businessman, functioning as an open critique of capitalism and repression. It was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, but ended up having its participation canceled by the Brazilian military dictatorship. Even so, it deserves an honorable mention on this list.

Where to watch: YouTube

How many of the Brazilian films that have participated in the festival have you seen? Tell us in the comments.

See also other features:

The winners of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

See iconic moments in the history of the Cannes Film Festival

Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 16 / 04 / 2025.

Source: Cannes film festival