Awards

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.

Winner: IMAGEM IMAGINADA, de Diego Benevides (Brasil-PB)

Special Mention: MIRA, de Daniella Saba (Brasil-SP, França)

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.

Winner: DIÁLOGO BULBUL, de Nicole Mendes, Bruno Churuska, Gledson Augusto, Yan Altino, Zimá Domingos

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.

Winner: MORTO NÃO, de Alex Reis (Brasil-SP)

SELEÇÃO ESPECIAL SESCTV

Two R$ 6,000 prizes for a Brazilian and an international short film, chosen by SescTV jury.

Winners: ASTRONAUTA, de Giorgio Giampà (Itália, França, Guatemala, México)

O MAPA EM QUE ESTÃO MEUS PÉS, de Luciano Pedro Jr. (Brasil-AL)

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.

Winners: OS DIAS COM ELA, de Lina Nonato Montanari (Brasil-SP)

BRASA, de Diane Maia (Brasil-SP)

TV CULTURA

Two R$ 5,000 prize for two selected films from Sao Paulo state, chosen by a TV Cultura jury.

Winners: THEO, de Monica Palazzo e Jo Galvv

ENTRE MÃES, de V Magalhães

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.

Winner: THEO, de Monica Palazzo e Jo Galvv

CANAL CURTA! E PORTA CURTAS

One R$ 5,000 acquisiton prize for a Brazilian short film chosen by Canal Curta!/Porta Curtas jury.

Winner: O MAPA EM QUE ESTÃO MEUS PÉS, de Luciano Pedro Jr. (Brasil-AL)

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.

Winner: ENTRE MÃES, de V Magalhães (Brasil-SP)

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.

Winner: DIU, de Camila Schincaglia (Brasil-SP, Estados Unidos)

Special Mention: DUWID TUMINKIZ – MAKUNAIMA É DUWID?, de Gustavo Caboco Wapixana (Brasil-PR)

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.

Winner - Unlimited Showcase: RAIDINALHA, de Marco Arruda (Brasil-RS)

Special Mention - Unlimited Showcase: REPLIKKA, de Heloisa Passos, Piratá Waurá (Brasil-MT)

Winner - Latin-American Showcase: IXQUIC, de Elvis Caj (Guatemala)

Special Mention - Latin-American Showcase: TODOS OS NOMES COMEÇAM COM M, de Carla Scolari (Argentina, Uruguai)

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.

Brazilian Highlight: MORFEU E CARONTE, de Jocimar Dias Jr., Luiz Ulian (Brasil-SP)

Foreign Film Highlight: BOLERO VERMELHO, de Angel Molina (Paraguai, Nicarágua, França)

Special Award: Lorre Motta, por REVELAÇÃO, de Gabriela I. Gaia (Brasil-RJ)

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.

Winner: O JARDIM, de Carolina Charadán, Miguel Machado (Cuba, Canadá, México)

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.

Winner: KAKXOP PAHOK: AS CRIANÇAS CEGAS, de Charles Bicalho, Cassiano Maxakali (Brasil-MG)

Finalists: BARULHO, de Karen Suzane (Brasil-RJ)

SAMBA INFINITO, de Leonardo Martinelli (Brasil-RJ)

A ASCENSÃO DA CIGARRA, de Ana Clara Ribeiro Lages (Brasil-RO)

O VÉU, de Gabriel Motta (Brasil-RS)

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.

Winners > 10+ BRAZIL | AUDIENCE'S CHOICE

BRASA, de Diane Maia (SP)

COMUNHÃO, de Pétala Lopes (SP)

KIKA NÃO FOI CONVIDADA, de Juraci Júnior (RO)

MORFEU E CARONTE, de Jocimar Dias Jr., Luiz Ulian (SP)

MORTO NÃO, de Alex Reis (SP)

MULHER PAPAYA, de Camila Tarifa (SP)

OS ARCOS DOURADOS DE OLINDA, de Douglas Henrique (PE)

PASSADO E PRESENTE, de Filipe Barbosa (SP)

RECIFE TEM UM CORAÇÃO, de Rodrigo Sena (RN)

VALSA PARA MARIA DOMINGAS, de Eugênia Santana (SP)

Winners > 10+ FOREIGN FILMS | AUDIENCE'S CHOICE

MEU IRMÃO LYOSHA E EU, de Lena Tronina (Cazaquistão)

NASCIDA SOLDADO, de Sahara Moeini (França)

O ÚLTIMO JOGO, de Daniel Chile (Cuba)

OS MENTIROSOS, de Eduardo Braun Costa (Argentina, Brasil)

PARA OS OPONENTES, de Federico Luis (México, Chile, França, Reino Unido)

POR FAVOR, de Anna Mantzaris (Suécia)

RUÍDO DAS ONDAS, de Tomasz Wrobel (Polônia) 

TRIO, de Fridtjof Stensæth Josefsen, Morten Borgestad (Noruega)

UM LOBO NOS SUBÚRBIOS, de Amélie Hardy (Canadá)

VIDA QUE SEGUE, de Daniel Audritt, Kathryn Butterfield (Reino Unido)

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.

Winner: FEITO TATU, de Larissa Barbosa

FROM SHORT TO FEATURE LAB (Support: Projeto Paradiso)

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.

Winner: LEMBRAR DE MIM, de Bárbara Bárcia

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.

Winner: VIDA ETERNA, de Clari Ribeiro