How about taking advantage of October to travel the world without leaving the movie theater? And best of all: with the chance to watch movies for free! The São Paulo International Film Festival reaches its 50th edition from the 15th to the 29th, transforming the capital into a major film circuit.
In all, there will be 380 films from 93 countries, including more than 100 Brazilian productions. Screenings will take place at 57 cultural venues throughout the city, with options for different audiences and budgets.
What to expect from the 50th São Paulo International Film Festival?
This commemorative edition features everything from award-winning films from international festivals to Brazilian films, retrospectives, and special screenings.
One of the major honorees is American filmmaker James Gray, who is coming to São Paulo to present his new feature film, *Paper Tiger*, at the festival’s opening. The director also designed the official poster for this edition and is being honored with a retrospective featuring films such as *No Way Back*, *Once Upon a Time in New York*, and *The Night Walkers*.
The opening will also feature “South of Tehran,” a Brazilian-U.S. co-production directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho.
Among the international highlights are works by filmmakers such as Andrey Zvyagintsev, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Paweł Pawlikowski, and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. Brazilian cinema, meanwhile, is represented by more than 100 productions.
For families, the 3rd Mostrinha offers a special program featuring 21 films from 20 countries, 16 of which are making their Brazilian debut.
This year, the children’s section pays tribute to Ziraldo, creator of “O Menino Maluquinho.” The poster references the book “Meu Amigo, o Canguru,” while the opening night will feature the Brazilian feature film “Clarice Vê Estrelas,” directed by Letícia Pires.
Where can you watch the films for free?
One of the best things about this year’s festival is that you don’t have to spend money to enjoy part of the program.
The 27 theaters in the Spcine Circuit, spread across 26 CEUs and the Cidade Tiradentes Cultural Training Center, will offer free screenings.
There will also be free screenings at venues such as the Sérgio Cardoso Theater, Itaú Cultural, and Sesc Paulista, as well as sessions at the Petrobras Room at the Festival.
Meanwhile, the São Paulo Cultural Center and the Olido Cultural Center will offer discounted tickets for R$ 2 and R$ 4.
At participating theaters with paid screenings, such as CineSesc, Cinesala, Cine Tutu, and Espaço Petrobras de Cinema, tickets cost R$32 (full price) and R$16 (half price).
So, whether you’re looking to discover an unknown director, check out an award-winning film, or introduce children to cinema, the Festival offers different ways to enjoy the program.
🎟️ Cost: free screenings and paid tickets, depending on the venue
🎬 Program: Check out the films, showtimes, and locations on the festival’s official website.
