FROM FAST X TO NETFLIX’S SENNA, BRAZIL IS HOSTING A HUGE VARIETY OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS DRAWN TO THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY’S STRIKING LOCATIONS, ENTICING INCENTIVES AND SKILLED CREW.
“THE TALK OF THE TOWN SURROUNDS THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF AN OVERARCHING BRAZILIAN FILM COMMISSION.”
"SINCE THE INCENTIVE WAS LAUNCHED, MORE THAN USD400 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED INTO THE CITY OF SÃO PAULO FROM A NUMBER OF PRODUCTIONS." | Netflix’s dramatic mini-series Senna about Brazil’s legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna is the streamer’s most ambitious and largest budget local project to date. The large-scale production filmed at the end of 2023 including in São Paulo, and Angra dos Reis in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It tapped into the country’s cash rebate worth up to 30%. Hundreds of local crew and cast were used on the bio-drama, which is produced by Brazilian production company Gullane Entretenimento with Vicente Amorim serving as showrunner and Amorim and Julia Rezende as directors. This project is the flagship of Netflix’s USD182 million investment in Brazilian-based production. The streaming giant has also committed to invest USD912 million towards initiatives for the development of professionals in Brazil's audiovisual community. Netflix has already backed several original local series and films, including Sintonia and Invisible City, which also showcased São Paulo’s urban sprawl and Rio’s mix of nature and cityscapes. São Paulo has become particularly popular as a filming location for productions aiming to blend gritty realism with compelling storytelling. This is thanks in great part to the work of Spcine, Sao Paulo’s film and television body, which works hard to promote the city to international producers. Last year, the organisation signed a production pact with South Africa, investing USD20,000 in four projects, two led by South African producers and another two from São Paulo-based producers. One of the biggest draws for international productions, set up by Spcine in 2021, is the 30% cash rebate, which in its first run saw the USD2 million fund allocated in just one day. As a result, they secured four times the budget for the second round, which was allocated to four projects that invested a total of USD12.7 million locally. The organisation works to ensure the funding application process is as streamlined as possible. There is also a simulator that allows producers to see if their project will qualify for the rebate, and at what level, to assist in drawing up accurate budgets. Since the incentive was launched, more than USD400 million has been invested into the city of São Paulo from a number of productions. Some of which had considered filming in other parts of South America but were drawn to the city by the incentive. There are also plenty of local production companies in São Paulo (nearly 10,000 according to the Brazilian institute of Geography and Statistics) working on projects and available to support international productions. BEACHES AND FAVELAS Meanwhile, Rio’s exotic popularity remains undimmed. “This year (2024), we had 24 international productions arrive in the city from January until August,” says Daniel Celli, head of RioFilme, the city’s film commission. “We have a specialised service for foreign producers called the Exclusive Service Desk for Foreign Filming, providing a support team that is ready and attentive to take the best possible care of foreign producers who are looking at Rio as a possible destination for their production, or who come here already in the production phase.” Maurício Hirata, RioFilme’s investment director, adds: “From 2021 to the second quarter of 2024, the Rio de Janeiro city has invested USD24 million in audiovisual content production, including international co-productions, from feature films to television series and games.” Universal Pictures’ Fast X filmed key scenes in Rio in 2022, taking advantage of the city’s 30% cash rebate, which can rise to 35% for projects that feature Brazil as their main location. Rio’s favelas, bustling streets, and famous landmarks provided stunning backdrops for action sequences in the movie. More recently Adam Wingard’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire backed by Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment shot in and around iconic locations such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach, Botafogo and downtown Rio. Bianca Costa, one of the blockbuster’s producers said, “All of these locations were thoroughly studied by production designer Tom Hammock and production director John Marx during previous trips. This made the difference because we had time to plan, and to have the location manager Chris Habib showing the location options in advance of applying for the permits.” JOINED UP THINKING Other cities and regions around Brazil are working hard to attract productions, including the Fernando de Noronha archipelago but the talk of the town surrounds the potential creation of an overarching film commission. The proposal for a National Network of Film Commissions was announced in August by government officials and Embratur, the Brazilian tourist board. If this happens then a synchronised approach could lead to even more international productions flocking to all parts of the country and receiving joined-up support to make their projects a success. TAX INCENTIVES Sao Paulo offers a 20-30% cash rebate for international films and television shows. The programme requires a minimum spend of USD2 million with a cap per project of USD3 million. Main Image: Gabriel Leone as Ayrton Senna in Senna © Alan Roskyn/Netflix 2024. |
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