Awards
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Below, check out the awards offered by Kinoforum – São Paulo International Short Film Festival and its partners to films in the 37th edition’s lineup. These awards are determined by juries selected by the festival team and by a public vote, in which the audience chooses their favorites from the International, Latin American, Limite, and Brazil showcases.
The ten Brazilian and ten international films receiving the most votes are announced in alphabetical order at the awards ceremony and screened again during the Festival’s final weekend. This vote informs the selections made by several of our partners, who also announce their award winners during the closing ceremony.
This year, we are introducing a new award for unreleased Brazilian films in honor of our founder, Zita Carvalhosa–providing further encouragement for the format and its filmmakers.
ZITA CARVALHOSA AWARD
This edition of the Kinoforum – São Paulo International Short Film Festival introduces a new award in honor of the festival’s founder, producer Zita Carvalhosa. The jury listed below will be responsible for selecting a film among the Brazilian productions premiering nationally across the event’s various programs. The film awarded will receive a prize of R$ 20,000.00 (twenty thousand reais), granted by Associação Cultural Kinoforum, the festival’s organizer.
JURY
DEBORAH OSBORN
Audiovisual producer and a Master’s student in Cinema at Goldsmiths, University of London, as a British Council scholarship recipient. Founder of bigBonsai, she has produced award-winning documentaries, fiction films, series, and podcasts. She currently serves on the Brazilian committee for the 2027 Oscars.
LILIAN SOLÁ SANTIAGO
Filmmaker, researcher, and educator. Holding a PhD in Audiovisual Media and Processes from ECA-USP, she was the only woman in Dogma Feijoada–a pioneering collective of Black Brazilian cinema. She directed “Família Alcântara”, among other films, and founded the Casa da Memória Negra de Salto, where she develops the “documentary terreiro”.
LUCIANA RODRÍGUEZ
Uruguayan journalist and film critic, secretary of the Uruguayan Film Critics Association (ACCU), and a Golden Globe voter. She has served on FIPRESCI juries at the Guadalajara and Montreal festivals and collaborates with international media outlets and festivals.
BREAKTHROUGH AWARD
The Breakthrough Award encourages young Brazilian audiovisual talent by supporting the production of their next short film, from shooting through finalization. Eligible directors are selected by an expert jury, and the supported short must be screened at Kinoforum – São Paulo International Short Film Festival.
JURY
CAIO LAZANEO
Director, producer, documentarian, editor, finishing specialist, educator, and curator of film screenings and courses; holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Communication Sciences from ECA-USP. He coordinates the Cinema and Audiovisual program at PUC-Campinas.
LARA LIMA
A Film graduate from FAAP, she is a founding partner of Lira Cinematográfica, where she focuses on the development and production of auteur-driven and independent cinema. The production company’s latest feature film, “O Estranho” premiered at the Berlinale Forum in 2023. She was part of the Kinoforum team for 10 years.
RAPHAEL CAMACHO
He has been a film critic for Cinepop for nearly two decades and is the creator of @guiadocinefilo, a platform dedicated to film curation and promotion. He also worked as a programmer for Cine Joia in Copacabana, where he was responsible for selecting and organizing film showcases.
ACQUISITION PRIZES
PRÊMIO CANAL BRASIL DE CURTAS
A R$ 15,000 prize for the best film in competition, chosen by a Canal Brasil jury.
SELEÇÃO ESPECIAL SESCTV
Two R$ 6,000 prizes for a Brazilian and an international short film, chosen by SescTV jury.
SPCINE PLAY
Two R$ 5,000 prizes for two selected films from Sao Paulo state exhibited in Brazilian Programs, chosen by Spcine’s Diffusion curatorial team between.
TV CULTURA
Two R$ 5,000 prize for two selected films from Sao Paulo state, chosen by a TV Cultura jury.
CINESOLAR
One R$ 3,000 acquisiton prize and the participation during an year in the exhibition circuit solar-powered of one Brazilian film chosen from Kid’s and Teen’s Showcase.
CANAL CURTA! E PORTA CURTAS
One R$ 5,000 acquisiton prize for a Brazilian short film chosen by Canal Curta!/Porta Curtas jury.
TROPHIES AND HIGHLIGHTS
TV Cultura Mention for New Perspectives
Honorable mentions will be awarded to two short films produced in Audiovisual Production Workshops, guaranteeing a screening slot in the TV Cultura schedule.
ABRACCINE AWARD
A jury composed of Abraccine members will select the best debut or second feature film from among those selected for the Brazil Showcase.
API Award – Brazilian Independent Producers Association
The Association of Independent Brazilian Audiovisual Producers (API) will present one award for a film in the Limite Showcase and another for a film in the Latin American Showcase. The winners will be selected by a jury composed of representatives from API member companies.
LGBTQIAP+ Highlight: “Golden Butterfly” Trophies
Three standout films–a Brazilian film, a foreign film, and a special award winner–will be honored from among the short films addressing sexual diversity that were selected by the LGBTQIAP+ Film Club team.
Kaiser Trophy – ABCA Highlight for Best Animation
The “Kaiser” trophy pays tribute to the first known Brazilian auteur film, created by cartoonist Seth (Álvaro Martins). A jury from the Brazilian Animation Cinema Association (ABCA) will award the best animated film screened at the festival.
Best Brazilian Short Film Soundtrack - Audiovibes
A jury appointed by Audiovibes will select a short film from the Brazil Showcase that stands out for its soundtrack, and other 5 special mentions.
AUDIENCE'S CHOICE
The Festival audience votes for their favorite films, with the ten top Brazilian and international shorts announced at the awards ceremony and screened again on the final weekend.
WIPKINO - EDITING LAB
The winning project of Kinoforum Labs - Wikpkino – Editing Lab will receive the Stone Milk Post-Production Award, which comprehend R$25,000 in finishing services, including digital lab work, conforming, artwork application, master file generation, and deliveries such as DCP, ProRes, and H.264. It also provides R$5,000 in consulting services for story or pilot script analysis and postproduction guidance.
FROM SHORT TO FEATURE LAB
The winning project of Kinoforum Labs – From Short to Feature will receive comprehensive mentoring in production and directing, with three tailored online sessions led by Bernabé Demozzi. The feature project will also receive Stone Milk post-production and consulting incentives, including finishing services, digital lab work, conforming, artwork, mastering, deliveries, script analysis, and post-production guidance.
KINO INCUBATOR LAB
The winning project of Kinoforum Labs – Kino Incubator receives the Stone Milk Post-Production Award for short films, which comprehend R$5,000 in consulting services, including story or pilot script analysis and post-production guidance. The winning project from Kino Incubator Lab will also receive all production support included in the Revelation Award, expanding its development and post-production opportunities.
