Brazil Named As Country of Honor At 2025 Cannes Market​on February 26, 2025 at 1:00 pm

Brazil will be the country of honor at the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film, running from May 13 to 21.

The spotlight comes amid Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s drive to make the audiovisual sector a key pole of his country’s economic strategy.

The news of the focus also comes at time when Brazilian cinema is enjoying international attention thanks to a buzzy awards season run for director Walter Salles’ political drama I’m Still Here, which is nominated for three Academy Awards.

Brazil’s participation at the Marché du Film also aligns with the France-Brazil Season, agreed last summer by French President Emmanuel Macron and Lula to celebrate the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The multidisciplinary initiative running across 2025 aims to strengthen bilateral ties and generate joint responses to contemporary political, social and ecological challenges.

The country of honor program is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Brazil, and in collaboration with the Instituto Guimarães Rosa and the Embassy of Brazil in Paris

“Brazil and France have long shared a strong and evolving partnership, and this extends to the world of cinema and the creative industries,” said Brazilian Minister of Culture Margareth Menezes, who will be in attendance in Cannes this year.

“As we celebrate two centuries of diplomatic relations in 2025, this occasion strengthens the cultural and artistic ties between our two nations.”

The program aims to bring Brazil’s leading filmmakers, producers, and decision-makers together with the international film community in Cannes, as well showcase the diversity and strength of Brazil’s film and audiovisual industry and its openness to co-productions.

Brazil’s participation will extend across several of the Marché du Film’s key programs and will include film and documentary work-in-progress showcases, networking events and presentations of new international co-production initiatives.

The country will also kick off the Marché du Film event by hosting the official Opening Night party at the Plage des Palmes – the joint venue of the Festival de Cannes and the Marché du Film.