Associação Cultural Videobrasil

For five years now, the Fotoptica Festival has been a showcase for new talents, a shop window for independent Brazilian productions. Now, in its sixth year, it is regarded as the country’s leading video event, stirring controversy, debate and the welcome participation of equipment manufacturers and importers.

Thanks to the Fotoptica Videobrasil Festival, upon attending other exhibits, video screening rooms and theaters, we have noticed a renewed interest in "non-long" material such as music videos, short films and documentaries. Instead of a meager, uninterested, apathetic audience, we have found packed venues, interested people, questioning, applauding and cheering.

We were deeply satisfied to see the comeback of the critical spirit, an attempt to concentrate information, to present different point of views over the course of a few minutes. There is a sense of renewal and even irreverence in the air. Would this be an indication of a general state of mind? Is this a new hope? Perhaps this is an optimistic, “high-spirited” contestation, a change of vibe. Let’s hope so!

In addition to being a huge manifestation and a source of pride, supporting and spreading Culture in our State has been one of the main goals of the State Secretariat for Culture. In keeping with this proposal, the Fotoptica Videobrasil Festival is a good example of our stance of encouraging cultural production and enabling the creation of ideas, projects and events. Videobrasil, with its highly technical formal research work, provides a portrait of the reality of our resources and society. It is also first and foremost a quest to consolidate video’s social role as a tool that must be made accessible to all layers of the population, hence the State Secretariat for Culture’s efforts in supporting it, alongside other projects and activities such as the Stimulus Prize (Prêmio Estímulo), currently awarded to independent producers. Furthermore, the partnership with Fotoptica marks an ever-fruitful connection between State and Society. To the State Secretariat for Culture, both the video makers and Fotoptica are the synthesis of what we stand for: State and Society side by side, working together for Culture.

I have been working for a channel, TV Gazeta, that is constantly offering space for talented young people. Our philosophy is also one of giving opportunities to young producers, including those who stand out at the Fotoptica Videobrasil Festival and other festivals, allowing them to enter the television market.

It is also important to mention that in addition to Marcelo Machado, Fernando Meirelles (who joined us on planning and implementing TV Mix), Tadeu Jungle, Walter Silveria, Oswaldo Oliva, Ney Marcondes, Davilson Brasileiro, other young professionals are working and producing for Gazeta. Thus, we intend to reveal and showcase as many young professionals as the market can absorb.