Hubert Bals Fund and Brazilian partners Spcine, RioFilme and Projeto Paradiso launch new development support initiative

The Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announces together with three leading public and private partners for the promotion of cinema in Brazil – Spcine (São Paulo), a company of Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the City of São Paulo, RioFilme (a company of Rio de Janeiro City Hall) and Projeto Paradiso – HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support, dedicated to supporting the early development of projects by second and third time filmmakers from the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and the rest of Brazil. 

In the pilot year of the planned three year initiative, the scheme will support up to nine fiction film projects in early development, directed by a Brazilian filmmaker and with a Brazilian production company attached, with grants of €10,000 each. As Management Partner, the Hubert Bals Fund will launch the call for projects in the second half of 2025 on IFFR.com. 

Through the scheme, the partners aim to elevate unique, innovative, and culturally significant storytelling from Brazil by giving financial support and international visibility to Brazilian filmmaking talent, whilst fostering international collaboration. The scheme combines the local knowledge and resources of two regional funding agencies Spcine, RioFilme, a foundation for the development of Brazilian filmmaking talent Projeto Paradiso with the management expertise of the HBF in uplifting projects with high artistic and collaborative potential.

A cooperation agreement was signed during Cannes, where Brazil is the Country of Honour at the Marché du Film. The initiative builds on the HBF’s recent collaborations in Brazil, including the publication Development with Impact, launched by the HBF together with Projeto Paradiso in October 2024 at the São Paulo International Film Festival, offering insights into the vital role of early-stage development funding in Brazil and beyond. 

Vanja Kalujdercic, Festival Director of IFFR, and Tamara Tatishvili, Head of the Hubert Bals Fund said: “Our connection with Brazil runs deep – it’s the country we’ve supported more than any other in our 35-year history. Many of Brazil’s leading filmmakers – including Kleber Mendonça Filho, Marcelo Gomes, Gabriel Mascaro and Julia de Simone – have benefitted from HBF support at key moments in their careers.

With this new initiative, we’re building on that legacy alongside prominent public and private partners who bring essential local knowledge and resources, as well as deep trust in the HBF’s expertise in development funding. Together, we’re acting on a shared commitment to new forms of cooperation – and to contributing meaningfully to Brazil’s independent film sector.”

Lyara Oliveira, president of Spcine said: "This partnership with the Hubert Bals Fund reinforces Spcine's commitment to promoting São Paulo's audiovisual industry on the international stage. The initiative expands the reach of our talents and connects São Paulo to global networks of creation and development. It is a step aligned with our strategy for internationalization and strengthening the local industry," says Lyara Oliveira, president of Spcine.”

Leonardo Edde, President of RioFilme said: “RioFilme is proud to take this important step alongside the Hubert Bals Fund and our national partners. This initiative is not only about supporting emerging voices, but also about strengthening the legacy of Rio de Janeiro’s already remarkable cinematography . We see this as a strategic move to expand international co-development opportunities and affirm Rio’s position as a leading creative capital on the global film map.”

Josephine Bourgois, Executive Director of Projeto Paradiso said: “this initiative builds on the relationship we have established with Hubert Bals Fund over the past five years of fruitful partnership. We are pleased to unite two leading Brazilian public funds with an internationally renowned institution for this pioneering initiative aimed at supporting development – a mission that Projeto Paradiso has embraced since its inception."

Founding Partners

About Spcine

Spcine is a public company based in São Paulo, Brazil, dedicated to fostering the audiovisual sector, linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the City of São Paulo. It operates as a development agency, funding and implementing programs and policies for the film, TV, gaming, and new media industries. Its mission is to recognize and promote the economic and creative potential of São Paulo’s audiovisual industry as well as its cultural and social impact.

About RioFilme

Founded in 1992, RIOFILME is the municipal public company that supports the audiovisual sector in Rio de Janeiro. Its mission is to foster the sector’s development across the entire value chain, strengthening both the city’s economy and cultural identity. Rio Film Commission supports Brazilian and international producers who want to shoot in the city.

About Projeto Paradiso

Projeto Paradiso is a foundation that offers a wide range of support for professionals in film and episodic content and champions their presence on the global stage.Focused on internationalisation, Projeto Paradiso works through partnerships with well-known institutions, thereby connecting national talent with training and business opportunities around the world.

About the Hubert Bals Fund

Established in 1988, the Hubert Bals Fund of International Film Festival Rotterdam supports groundbreaking film projects in every stage of the production process. The HBF has a special focus on filmmakers from countries where local filmmaking and infrastructure is lacking or restrictive. The HBF’s to date has supported over 1,100 film projects, many of which have premiered at major film festivals and received significant critical acclaim. Recent HBF projects include Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, Baby by Marcelo Caetano, Tato Kotetishvili’s Holy Electricity, and To a Land Unknown by Mahdi Fleifel.

About IFFR (International Film Festival Rotterdam)

International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) upcoming 55th edition of the festival will take place from 29 January – 8 February 2026. IFFR presents a leading international film festival and year-round programme and actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent through its co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals, Rotterdam Lab and other industry activities.

IFFR seeks to expand, enrich and challenge people’s views of the world and each other through film and audiovisual arts. IFFR’s programme deepens appreciation of cinema in all its forms, broadens and diversifies audiences, and creates opportunities for independent filmmakers and artists from around the globe.