Month for Film Lovers: São Paulo Hosts a Festival Marathon in September with Free Screenings, 4K Classics, and Even a Kristen Stewart Movie

The 21st edition of the Arab World Film Festival delves into the cultural diversity of the Middle East and North Africa, challenging stereotypes through film and video. The result of a partnership between ICArabe and Sesc SP, the film festival brings works from countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, and Lebanon to São Paulo.

The program addresses themes such as territory, memory, youth, and family heritage. Highlights include the opening film *Calle Málaga*, starring Carmen Maura, and the fantasy drama *Irkalla: The Dream of Gilgamesh*. In addition to the screenings, the public can participate in discussions with experts and directors.

If you’re looking for film festivals that combine art and social change, Ciranda de Filmes returns for its 9th edition, presenting cinema as a tool for reflection on childhood and youth.

With the theme “Childhood: Life’s Regenerative Force, ” the festival brings together more than 50 national and international short and feature-length films aimed at educators, families, and students. The program includes screenings of films such as the animated feature *Papaya* ( shown at the Berlin Film Festival) and the documentary *Do Colo da Terra*, as well as workshops, panel discussions, and exhibitions.

For lovers of the seventh art, the 4th edition of the “Amor ao Cinema” Film Festival is a must-see! This metalinguistic event celebrates this art form through works that examine cinema itself or challenge its conventions.

The in-person program is divided into two themes: “Films About Cinema, ” exploring behind-the-scenes stories and audiovisual memory, and “Films of Rupture, ” featuring groundbreaking works. Audiences can enjoy everything from the premiere of Mark Cousins’ documentary *The History of Documentaries: An Introduction* to renowned classics such as *Battleship Potemkin*, featuring an original soundtrack by the Pet Shop Boys.

Now in its 17th edition, Cinefantasy has established itself as one of the largest fantasy film festivals in Latin America. The event takes place at iconic venues throughout the capital to showcase the best in horror, science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers.

In addition to a curatorial program that uses the fantastic to explore social, racial, and political themes, this edition highlights productions such as the opening feature *Occupy Cannes*, the Amazonian horror film *Juliana Contra o Jambeiro do Diabo pelo Coração de João Batista*, and the South African film *Azul Escarlate*.

The film festival is holding its second edition in São Paulo, placing LGBTQIA+, Black, and peripheral narratives at the center of the cultural scene. The festival screens more than 30 films focusing on works by trans, drag, and non-binary filmmakers, organized into thematic sessions.

In addition to the screenings, there will also be the Cine-Corre Challenge, roundtable discussions, slam poetry battles, maracatu, and samba circles.

MUBI Fest arrives at the São Paulo Cultural Center for its 5th edition in Brazil, bringing together the best of contemporary cinephilia, 4K restorations, and outdoor screenings.

The festival features highly anticipated premieres, such as Kristen Stewart’s *The Chronology of Water*, and screenings of restored classics, including Wim Wenders ’*Paris, Texas* and Cacá Diegues’ *Bye Bye Brasil*.

Audiences can attend screenings in the CCSP’s indoor theater and open-air screenings at Cine na Praça, in a diverse setting that celebrates the diversity and legacy of world cinema.