ArtMattan Productions and Anthology Film Archives are pleased to present a new film series: "Cinema Favela, Celebrating the African Presence in Brazilian Cinema," to be held at Anthology Film Archives in New York City from July 24 to July 31, 2003.

Brazil has the largest population of African descent out of the continent of Africa and certainly the richest body of cinematic work concerning the black experience in Latin America. Internationally-renowned filmmakers such as Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Glauber Rocha, Carlos Diegues, Paulo Cezar Saraceni, Zozimo Bulbul and Joel Zito Araujo, have immortalized the rich human experience of one of the most vibrant groups in the New World. Zeze Mota, Grande Otelo, Milton Gonçalves, Zozimo Bulbul, Mauricio Gonçalves and many other powerful Afro-Brazilian actors and actresses have contributed in front of the camera to the personification of many of the characters that made history in Brazilian cinema. Filmgoers still remember the witty and manipulative Zeze Mota in XICA DA SILVA. Those who saw NATAL DA PORTELA during the African Diaspora Film Festival (ADFF) in 2000 did not forget the strong personality embodied by Milton Gonçalves as the title character. ORFEU by Carlos Diegues - Opening Film ADFF 1999 - gave some years later to Mr. Gonçalves the opportunity to play the role of a very sensitive and loving father distressed by the death of his son.

From July 24 to July 31, do not miss this rare opportunity to witness the talent of these filmmakers, actresses and actors. Come celebrate with us the African Presence in Brazilian Cinema!

Theatrical Premiere
ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
---------------------------------------
2001, 100 minutes, 35mm. In Portuguese with English subtitles,
directed by Geraldo Santos Pereira

Set in 19th-century Brazil, during a time when slavery was still at the foundation of the Latin American economy, this fascinating and ambitious historical drama is loosely based on the life of Black sculptor Antonio Francisco Lisboa (aka Aleijadinho), one of the greatest sculptors of Latin America. ALEJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT was screened during ADFF 2002; viewers came out of the theater talking about the intensity of the passion and suffering that Mauricio Gonçalves conveyed in that film. VARIETY states of ALEIJADINHO: "the film lovingly details Aleijadinho's constant severe pain, his disfigurement and the excruciating difficulty of climbing scaffolding on dysfunctional feet and legs."

ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT screening: Thursday, July 24-Friday, July 25 7:00pm/Saturday, July 26-Sunday, July 27 4:00pm/Monday, July 28-Tuesday, July 29 7:00pm/Thursday, July 31 7:00pm

NATAL DA PORTELA
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1988, 100 minutes, 35mm. In Portuguese with English Subtitles,
directed by Paulo Cezar Saraceni.

The name ?Natal da Portela? is historically attached to the cultural
identity of Brazil. Natal da Portela created the first scola de samba
in Rio de Janeiro. The schools of samba are the soul of carnival in
Brazil and major reservoirs of Afro-Brazilian culture. The film
depicts the life of Natal da Portela as a young man from the favelas -
the slums of the northern part of Rio de Janeiro - up to the creation
of "la Portela", the school of samba he created. The principal role
played by Milton Goncalves, one of the major Black actors in Brazil,
gives the story an authentic flavor rarely seen in films portraying
the contemporary life of Black people in Brazil. This is a film filled
with joy, music and laughter. NATAL DA PORTELA is also a film that
narrates the story of contemporary Brazil and the legacy of African
people in that country. Several other major actors enrich the story,
Zeze Mota well known for her role in QUILOMBO and the dean of Black
Brazilian actors, the great Grande Otello much remembered for his
major role in RIO ZONA NORTE and MACUNAIMA.

NATAL DA PORTELA SCREENING: Thursday, July 24 9:00pm/Saturday, July 26 9:30pm

ORFEU
---------------------------------------
1999, 110 minutes, 35mm. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Distributed by New Yorker Films, directed by Carlos Diegues.

Based on the play that inspired BLACK ORPHEUS, ORFEU transposes the
Greek Orpheus myth to a Rio de Janeiro favela (slum) at Carnival time.
Orfeu is the uncrowned king of the favela, a charismatic samba
musician who nobly refuses to abandon the favela. When he loses his
heart to Eurídice, he arouses the fatal jealousy of both his fiery
mistress and the favela?s brooding drug lord. Featuring luscious
colors and an infectious samba/hip-hop score, this romantic, dynamic
film never forgets that its explosions of beauty and creativity are
defiant responses to an otherwise intolerable burden of poverty and
grief. Opening Night Film, ADFF 1999

ORFEU screening: Friday, July 25 9:00pm/Saturday, July 26 7:00pm

US Premiere
SHORTS PROGRAM
---------------------------------------
COMPORTAMENTO HUMANO (Human Behavior)
Brazil, 1995, 12mins, drama, in Portuguese with English subtitles
directed by Flavio Leandro
In 1993, police officers opened fire on a group of sleeping street
children camped on the steps of a cathedral in Rio de Janeiro?s
central financial district, killing six. This event, later called
the Candelaria massacre, is vividly depicted in this short film
about the plight of street children in Brazil.

Followed by
THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
Brazil, 1997, 38 mins, documentary in Portuguese with English
subtitles, directed by Joel Zito Araujo, dir.
On March 13, 1992, Vicente Francisco do Espirito Santo, a Black
Brazilian who worked in a government-owned electricity company, was
fired from his job. It did not take long for him to realize that his
dismissal was directly linked to his skin color. Encouraged by his
union and a strong Black empowerment movement, he began a judicial
process which he won, and as a result was reinstated in his former
position. This informative documentary about an unknown victory
illustrates how the courts of Brazil did recognize the company?s
prejudice and racism in a country where such realities are usually
dismissed as atypical.

Followed by
CIDADAO SILVA (Citizen Silva)
Brazil, 2002, 7 mins, fiction short in Portuguese with English
subtitles, directed by directed by the group We in Cinema.
Silva is an everyday citizen searching for a way out at a moment of
conflict of the soul, between life and death, good and evil. Directed
by We in Cinema, an organization that was founded in Rio de Janeiro to
cast the film "City of God" and now recruits youth from the favelas to
learn filmmaking and other media arts, make original films and conduct
educational events in schools, using films as catalysts for discussion
of social issues between different classes.

Q&A with Amber Levinson from We in Cinema after the screening.

SHORTS PROGRAM screening: Sunday, July 27 7:00pm

ODO YA! LIFE WITH AIDS
---------------------------------------
1997, 58 minutes, documentary. In Portuguese with English subtitles,
directed by Tania Cypriano.

About the effects of AIDS in Brazil and the unusual response of a
religion called Candomble, to educate and cope with the epidemic. We
travel between the states of Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo and Bahia,
featuring personal struggles and words of wisdom from those whose
faith have brought endurance and pride. Candomble features the insight
of an Africa-descendant population with inspiring views on, and
actions towards, confronting the epidemic. By exploring the Candomble
practices, ODO YA! introduces and shares "axe" ? power of life ? as a
means for survival. Winner, Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color ?
ADFF 1999.

ODO YA! LIFE WITH AIDS screening: Sunday, July 27 9:00pm

WHO KILLED PIXOTE?
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1996, 120 minutes, 35mm. In Portuguese with English subtitles,
directed by José Joffily.

Fernando Ramos Da Silva gained worldwide recognition at age 11, as the
star in Hector Babenco?s 1980 film PIXOTE, LAW OF THE STRONGEST. A
child from the San Paolo favela Diadema, Da Silva grew to believe his
life would be changed forever. However, the scarcity of roles and his
near illiteracy prevented him from developing an acting career. Based
on the events of his life, as recounted in PIXOTE, LAW OF THE
STRONGEST by Brazilian journalist Loureiro and PIXOTE NO MORE by Cida
Venancio Da Silva, Fernando?s young widow, this film depicts the
poverty and injustice that still controls the destiny of the
"Pixotes", the street children of Brazil?s slums.

WHO KILLED PIXOTE? Screening: Monday, July 28 9:15pm

ABOLIÇAO
---------------------------------------
1988, 150 minutes. In Portuguese with English Subtitles, directed by
Sozimo Bulbul.

A startling look at the racial situation of Black Brazilians today.
Musicians, politicians, activists, ambassadors, social workers, sport
stars, actors, street kids, farmers, etc, are all asked: ?As we
celebrate 100 years since the abolition of slavery in Brazil, what
does abolition mean to you?? Divided in sections addressing
political, economic, social and cultural issues, ABOLIÇAO adds a new
analysis of the Black experience in Brazil. An indispensable film for
the study of the Black presence in Latin America.

ABOLIÇAO screening: Tuesday, July 29 9:00pm

DENYING BRAZIL
---------------------------------------
2000, 92 minutes, 35mm In Portuguese with English Subtitles, directed
by Joel Zito Araujo

This documentary is a plain-speaking and fascinating film about the
taboos, stereotypes and struggles of black actors in Brazilian
television's most popular genre, known in Latin America as the
telenovela (soap opera). The director, based on his own memories and
extensive research, examines race relations in Brazilian soap operas
and its pernicious influence on the "black identity". Winner Best
Brazilian Film Award at the International Documentary Festival of São
Paolo.

DENYING BRAZIL screening: Thursday, July 31 9:15pm

FILM SERIES SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

THURSDAY 24
----------------------
7:00 THEATRICAL PREMIERE!
ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
9:00 NATAL DA PORTELA

FRIDAY 25
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7:00 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
9:00 ORFEU

SATURDAY 26
----------------------------
4:30 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
7:00 ORFEU
9:30 NATAL DA PORTELA

SUNDAY 27
------------------------------
4:30 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
7:00 SHORTS PROGRAM - US Premiere
Comportamento Humano (Human Behavior)
The Exception and the Rule
Cidadão Silva (Citizen Silva)
9:00 ODO YA! LIFE WITH AIDS

MONDAY 28
------------------------------
7:00 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
9:15 WHO KILLED PIXOTE?

TUESDAY 29
-----------------------------
7:00 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
9:00 ABOLIÇAO

WEDNESDAY 30
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*no screenings*

THURSDAY 31
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7:00 ALEIJADINHO: PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT
9:15 DENYING BRAZIL