Estranhos Encontros: São Paulo Independent Film Festival is a young festival that opens a new window for independent cinema in the cultural calendar of a city that is essential to Brazilian and Latin American film. We seek works that explore inventive strategies and approaches to filmmaking, especially those that creatively navigate production limitations. We are interested in filmmakers who engage with the history—or histories—of cinema without nostalgia, seeking ways to make the cinema of the future. The festival is organized by a team of producers, programmers, critics, filmmakers, and other professionals deeply committed to discovering new films and new practices within the independent cinema landscape.
Our program includes a competitive short film section focused on Portuguese-speaking and Latin American countries; a contemporary showcase featuring international feature and mid-length films; and a retrospective session dedicated to the work of a filmmaker whose contribution to cinema has been particularly emblematic.
