With R$15 million for feature films, BNDES's film grant program returns after 9 years.
Each film will receive sponsorship of R$ 600.
247 - After nine years, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) is launching a new Film Grant this Friday, the 26th, to sponsor 25 feature films, totaling R$ 15 million. Each film will receive R$ 600 in sponsorship, conditional on a commitment to public screening in cinemas or streaming platforms between January 1st and December 31st, 2026. Applications are open until October 27th of this year.
According to the president of BNDES, Aloizio Mercadante, the institution has supported more than 400 films throughout its history. "This investment was interrupted by administrations that ignored the importance of cultural production in Brazil. Now, under President Lula's government, the Bank has resumed its commitment to supporting national cinema because it believes in the audiovisual industry and its potential to generate new jobs," he stated.
“Brazilian audiovisual production is one of the most powerful expressions of our culture and also a strategic sector of the creative economy. The return of this BNDES (Brazilian Development Bank) grant represents a fundamental stimulus for the diversity of narratives, job creation, and the international projection of our production,” states the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes. “Investing in cinema is investing in Brazil, in the appreciation of our identity, and in the strengthening of a productive chain that drives culture, innovation, and development,” she added.
With an emphasis on post-production and marketing, the public call will support films in five segments: "commercial fiction," "auteur fiction," "documentary," "animation," and "festival selections." The "commercial fiction" segment encompasses feature films that prioritize financial return without compromising artistic and technical quality. "Auteur fiction" includes works that seek technical and artistic recognition in the international market.
The "festival selected" category aims to increase the chances of Brazilian works receiving recognition at international awards ceremonies. In March of this year, the film *Ainda Estou Aqui* (I'm Still Here) won the 2025 Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Despite accumulating more than 20 nominations throughout history, this was the first time Brazil won the statuette.
Support for Brazilian cinema – From 1995 to 2017, BNDES supported more than 400 audiovisual works through public calls for proposals, with a total value exceeding R$ 600 million in updated values.
Furthermore, in partnership with the National Film Agency (Ancine) and the Ministry of Culture, BNDES also operates a credit line with resources from the Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA), with differentiated financing conditions. This line considers the specificities of the sector, such as the predominance of small and medium-sized enterprises and the difficulty in establishing traditional guarantees.
