The event is considered the opening of the annual calendar of film festivals in the country.
The Tiradentes Film Festival, considered the first major showcase of Brazilian cinema on the annual festival calendar, announced this week the program for the competitive sections Olhos Livres and Aurora, which are part of the 29th edition of the event.
The screenings begin on January 23rd and run until January 31st in the historic Minas Gerais city of Tiradentes, with free admission.
In total, 13 feature films in world premiere make up the two sections, evaluated by the Official Jury and the Youth Jury, in dialogue with the theme of this edition, Imaginative Sovereignty.
For the general coordinator of the Festival, Raquel Hallack, the event maintains a strategic role in the sector. “The festival opens the Brazilian audiovisual calendar and functions as a barometer for the productions that will gain prominence throughout the year,” she stated.
[Image caption: Film: Ao Sabor das Cinzas; credit: Bruno Cesar] According to Raquel Hallack, the edition brings together 140 Brazilian films in national premieres, reflecting the aesthetic, narrative, and regional diversity of contemporary cinema.
“It’s a fertile territory that anticipates trends, launches new names, and strengthens Brazilian audiovisual production,” she added.
Free Eyes Showcase
Aimed at filmmakers with established careers, the Free Eyes showcase brings together works that invest in formal freedom and aesthetic risk.
In 2026, the selection includes: My Camera Uncle, by Bernard Lessa (ES); Tannhäuser, by Vinícius Romero (SP); Amnesty 79, by Anita Leandro (RJ); The Forests of the Night, by Priscyla Bettim and Renato Coelho (SP); The Enigma of S., by Gustavo de Mattos Jahn (RJ); To the Taste of Ashes, by Taciano Valério (PE); and Difficult Lover, by João Pedro Faro (RJ).
Aurora Film Festival
Dedicated to debut feature films, Aurora continues as a space for discovery.
The program features Vulgo Jenny, by Viviane Goulart (GO); Sabes de Mim, Agora Esqueça, by Denise Vieira (DF); Politiktok, by Álvaro Andrade (BA); A Voz da Virgem, by Pedro Almeida (RJ); Para os Guardados, by Desali and Rafael Rocha (MG); and Obeso Mórbido, by Diego Bauer (AM).
According to the organizers, many of the films were made with their own resources or low-budget grants, highlighting the strength of independent cinema.
One of the most anticipated spaces of the Festival, the Cine-Praça transforms Largo das Forras into an open-air cinema, with screenings followed by discussions. This year’s program includes the films: Dear World (Miguel Falabella), The Last Episode (Maurílio Martins), Little Creatures (Anne Pinheiro Guimarães), Narcisa’s Legacy (Clarissa Appelt and Daniel Dias), In Dolores (Marcelo Gomes and Maria Clara Escobar), and Slopes of Memory – Landscapes of Clube da Esquina (Raabe Andrade and Daniel Caetano), in addition to short film screenings from Monday to Wednesday.
Besides the screenings, the festival maintains a strong investment in educational activities, with 16 free events including workshops, seminars, and masterclasses. “Since the first edition, education has been an essential part of our identity,” highlighted Hallack.
The complete program is available on the event’s official website.
