RioFilme launches $4m film fund

The announcement was made during RioMarket, the business side of the Rio International Film Festival that runs until October 8.

“By adding the value of this new public bid, the investment of RioFilme in the audiovisual sector in 2014 will total $19.9m (R$ 49m), covering 117 projects,’’ said Sergio Sá Leitao, the Municipal Secretary of Culture and president director of RioFilme.

The new public bid will select 15 feature film projects (including fiction, animation and documentaries), which will each receive up to $162,000 (R$400,000) for production or $81,400 (R$200,000) for post-production. In terms of short films, 11 projects will get up to $20,300 (R$50,000) for production.

In the TV sector, six projects for series will be granted, receiving each $203,600 (R$500,000) – as long as the production company proves the investment of another R$500.000 from a TV cable network.

“For the first time we will select series produced exclusively for digital platforms,’’ said Leitao, adding that 10 projects will receive R$100,000 ($40,700) to be made.

“Because we established a partnership with YouTube, besides the 10 projects selected, plus 100 candidates will receive a course about the digital platform done by the video-sharing website.’’

Five art cinemasfrom Rio will also benefit, receiving incentives of R$200,000 ($81,400) each for their digitization process. “Since the Brazilian distributors will stop providing copies in 35mm from 2016, some traditional movie theaters are doomed to disappear. That’s exactly what we want to avoid,’’ said Leitao.

Today’s announcement also included the revitalization of Cine Gloria, a 110-seat cinema situated at the Memorial of Getulio Vargas. It will be renamed CineCarioca Gloria and will have a programme dedicated to Brazilian films, classic movies and foreign art films, besides festivals aimed at children.