Matanga

Felix, a 16-year-old boy, receives a diagnosis of an incurable disease and sees his life turned into uncharted territory. Unable to accept this new reality, he goes through the stages of grief denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, a delicate beginning of acceptance. Amidst the emotional chaos, Felix finds an unexpected refuge in filmmaking. Films begin to offer not only comfort, but a new way of seeing the world and himself. It is then that his passion is born: telling stories. Driven by the need to give meaning to his life, he decides to transform his journey into art and begins to write and direct a film about his own life.

This short film follows the journey of Rosane Pires and Iara Viana, during the preparations for their wedding, as well as the civil and religious ceremonies.

Amidst memories, dreams, and sensations, the youngest member of a family affected by cancer recounts stories about the love and longing left behind by his father, his sister, and Cajueiro beach.

Documentary about the preparation of a popular celebration of "Dia do Preto Velho", one of the most important rituals from the Umbanda in Brazil.

The first of four installments in the groundbreaking Heartbeat of the World anthology film series. Comprised of several short films by some of the world's most exciting directors, Words with Gods follows the theme of religion - specifically as it relates to an individual's relationship with his/her god or gods...or the lack thereof. In Words with Gods, each director recounts a narrative centered around human fragility, as well as environmental and cultural crises involving specific religions with which each has a personal relationship; including early Aboriginal Spirituality, Umbanda, Buddhism, the Abrahamic faiths, Hinduism, and Atheism. An animated sequence by Mexican animator Maribel Martinez is woven through each of the film segments, with each segment narratively connected as a feature-length film.

Life is what we don't want it to be.