Awards

Breakthrough Award

The Breakthrough Award aims to encourage young talent in Brazilian audiovisual by supporting the development of their next project — from shooting to the finalization of a short film of up to 15 minutes. To make this process possible, the festival relies on partnerships with companies in the audiovisual sector. The winner is selected by a jury composed of professionals from the field, specially invited for this task.

Eligible for the Breakthrough Award are directors of Brazilian short films produced in audiovisual courses and workshops, and screened in the Brazil and Cinema in Course sections. The short film produced with the support of the Breakthrough Award must be screened at the Kinoforum – São Paulo International Short Film Festival.

WINNER: Malmequer, de Maria Julia Gonçalves (SP)

BREAKTHROUGH AWARD JURY

Amilton Pinheiro

Journalist, critic, curator, and literary agent. He contributes to Folha de S.Paulo and the website Esquina da Cultura. He has curated festivals such as Fest Aruanda, the International Festival of Paraíba, and Curta-SE. A member of APCA and Abraccine, he has written essays, screenplays, and curated film programs at Itaú Cultural and the Brazilian Cinematheque.

Carissa Vieira

Originally from Recife (PE) and currently based in São Paulo, Carissa Vieira holds degrees in Performing Arts and Film and Audiovisual Studies from UFPE. She is a curator for the Cine PE and Tela Brasileira festivals. An audiovisual screenwriter, she is also a professor and script consultant focusing on gender and racial issues. She creates content on social media about cinema and television.

William Hinestrosa

Artistic Researcher in the Artistic Talent department at Estúdios Globo, William Hinestrosa is responsible for mapping professionals in directing, screenwriting, and production through continuous monitoring of Brazilian audiovisual output. Until 2014, he was part of Kinoforum, coordinating Brazilian programs at the Curta Kinoforum festival. He is currently a PhD candidate in Visual Arts at Unicamp, researching documentaries directed by anthropologist Debora Diniz. 

Canal Brasil Short Film Award

A R$15,000 (fifteen thousand reais) cash prize and a licensing contract will be awarded to the best short film from the Brazilian Programs, selected by a jury appointed by Canal Brasil.

WINNER: Amarela - André Hayato Saito (SP)

TV Cultura

A R$5,000 (five thousand reais) acquisition prize will be granted to a short film produced in the State of São Paulo, selected by a jury designated by TV Cultura. The awarded film will be broadcast on the network’s programming.

WINNER: Passa a Bola - Guilherme Falchi (SP)

SescTV Special Selection

Two acquisition prizes of R$6,000 (six thousand reais) each will be awarded: one to a Brazilian film and one to an international film directed by first-time filmmakers. The selection will be made by a jury appointed by SescTV. The awarded films will be licensed for non-exclusive exhibition over a two-year period.

WINNERS:

National: Benedita - Cadu Azevedo, Lane Lopes (RJ)
Foreign: MDB - Milagros Aquilia (Argentina)

CineSolar

One short film from the Mostra Brasil section will be selected to participate for one year in the CineSolar circuit — Brazil’s first solar-powered traveling cinema — which promotes free screenings nationwide to democratize access to audiovisual works, encourage sustainable practices and social inclusion, and spread awareness about solar energy technology. The film will receive a R$3,000 (three thousand reais) prize for its non-exclusive participation.

WINNER: Vozes do Mangue - JP Resende (Brazil, Denmark)

Canal Curta! / Porta Curtas

A licensing proposal will be offered to three short films from the Mostra Brasil, selected by the Canal Curta!/Porta Curtas curatorial team. The selection will be made from films that authorize their screening and online voting on the Porta Curtas platform, available through Claro TV+ during the event.

- A Cabana - Barbara Sturm (SP)
- A Carta de Mudan e as Oito Primaveras - Pedro Nishi (Brasil, China)
- Janete - Rebecca Cerqueira (SP)

Todes Play

An acquisition award for three months of non-exclusive exhibition on the Todes Play platform.

Americana - Agarb Rocha (PA)

TV Cultura Mention for New Perspectives

Two honorable mentions will be awarded to short films produced in audiovisual workshops, granting the selected films a broadcast window on TV Cultura.

Special Mention: Da Viela Pra Cá, de Mayra Russo (SP)
Special Mention: Devaneio, de Thomaz Zona (SP)

API Award – Brazilian Independent Producers Association

API – the Association of Brazilian Independent Audiovisual Producers will present two awards: one to a film from the Limite showcase and another to a film from the Latin American showcase. The winners will be selected by a jury composed of representatives from API’s member companies.

WINNERS: 

Latin American Showcase | Best Picture: Serviço Funerário Para Você (Servicio Necrológico Para Usted) - María Salafranca (Cuba)
Unlimited Showcase | Best Picture: Os Pomares (Al Basateen) - Antoine Chapon (France)

LGBTQIAP+ Highlight: “Golden Butterfly” Trophies

Three highlights will be awarded — one Brazilian film, one international film, and one special prize — among short films that address sexual diversity, selected by the Cineclube LGBTQIAP+ team.

WINNERS: 

Brazilian: Fronteriza - Rosa Caldeira, Nay Mendl (Brazil, Paraguay)
Foreign: Um Dia Esse Menino (One Day This Kid) - Alexander Farah (Canada)
Special Prize: Leona Vingativa (Americana) - Agarb Rocha (PA)

Kaiser Trophy – ABCA Highlight for Best Animation

The “Kaiser” trophy refers to the earliest known Brazilian authored film, created by the cartoonist Seth (Álvaro Martins). This award will be given to the best animated film.

Best Picture: Brincando De Deus (Playing God) - Matteo Burani (Italy, France)
Special Mention: Safo - Rosana Urbes (SP)

Best Brazilian Short Film Soundtrack - Audiovibes

Among the short films in the Brazil Showcase that stand out for their soundtracks, the winning film will receive a trophy and 10 hours of music supervision for the director's next project; the five finalists will receive a certificate and a music supervision workshop. The selection will be made by a jury from Audiovibes.

Finalistss:
- A Nave Que Nunca Pousa, de Ellen Morais (PB)
- Bela LX-404, de Luiza Botelho (RJ)
- Kabuki, de Tiago Minamisawa (Brazil, France)
- O Céu Não Sabe Meu Nome, de Carol AÓ (BA/SP)
- Quase Trap, de Filipe Barbosa (SP)

Best Soundtrack: Kabuki - Tiago Minamisawa (Brazil, France)

Festival audiences vote for their favorite films from the Limite, International, Latin American, and Brazilian Programs. The ten most-voted Brazilian shorts and ten most-voted international shorts are announced — in alphabetical order — during the awards ceremony and re-screened during the Festival’s closing weekend.

WINNERS:

10+ BRAZIL | AUDIENCE'S CHOICE

A Tragédia da Lobo-Guará - Kimberly Palermo (RJ)
Amarela, - André Hayato Saito (SP)
Arame Farpado - Gustavo de Carvalho (SP)
Dois Nilos - Samuel Lobo e Rodrigo de Janeiro (RJ)
Meu Pedaço de Mandioca - Raíssa Castor (PR)
Minha Câmera É Minha Flecha - Natália Tupi (SP)
Peixe Morto - João Fontenele (CE)
Picumã - Sladká Meduza (SP)
Safo - Rosana Urbes (SP)
Sebastiana - Pedro De Alencar (RJ)

10+ FOREIGN | AUDIENCE'S CHOICE

Ascensão e Queda de Zara Zilverstein (El Ascenso y Caída de Zara Zilverstein) - Brian Kazez (Argentina, France, Spain, USA)
Autokar - Sylwia Szkiladz (Belgium, France)
Brincando De Deus (Playing God) - Matteo Burani (Italy, France)
E Se Uma Bomba Cair Hoje Aqui? (What If They Bomb Here Tonight?) - Samir Syriani (Lebanon)
Kotowari - Coralie Watanabe Prosper (France)
O Rio de Janeiro Continua Lindo - Felipe Casanova  (Belgium, Brazil, Switzerland)
Petra e o Sol (Petra y el Sol), -  Malu Furche, Stefania Malacchini (Chile)
Pulgas (Amazeze) -  Jordy Sank (South Africa)
Serviço Funerário Para Você (Servicio Necrológico Para Usted) - María Salafranca (Cuba)
Só Me Deixem Dançar (Laissez-Moi Danser) - Lou Zidi (France)

KINOFORUM LABS – FROM SHORT TO FEATURE & KINO INCUBATOR

The jury of the Kinoforum Labs will select two winning projects during the final pitch session, to be held publicly at the Cinemateca Brasileira on August 28 at 10 a.m.

The winners will receive the following awards:
– One representative of the winning project from the From Short to Feature Lab, carried out in partnership with the Paradiso Project, will receive a plane ticket and accreditation for Ventana Sur 2025, to be held in December in Buenos Aires.
– The winning project from the Kino Incubator Lab will receive various products and services provided by the same partner companies involved in the Breakthrough Award.

WINNERS:

Short Film: O Vulcão - Kimberly Palermo (RJ)
Feature Filme: Peixes Artificiais - Renato José Duque (SP)

WIPKINO

The winning project of WIPKINO – Editing Lab will receive a mastering, DCP, and trailer production prize, offered by Tanto Cine.

WINNER: Passado e Presente, de Filipe Barbosa (SP)