Filmmaker Yearns for Neon Partnership

Filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Neon again, citing a "truly great" experience working with the distributor on "The Secret Agent." Filho shared these sentiments during the Projeto Paradiso National Talent Network Meeting in Recife, Brazil. He detailed the intense global promotional journey for the film, which earned four Oscar nominations and two Cannes awards. This experience inspired him to write a book chronicling the "crazy" adventure of navigating various facets of the film industry worldwide.

Filho highlighted Neon's exceptional work, noting their ability to balance business acumen with a genuine passion for cinema. He recalled a positive, "joyful relationship" over ten months, emphasizing that Neon chose him, rather than the other way around. This collaboration solidified his preference for working with a major player like Neon. He also mentioned the swift selection of MK2 as a producing partner, based on immediate chemistry during a meeting in Cannes in 2023.

Meanwhile, producer Emilie Lesclaux discussed her career in Recife and the evolution of the local film community. Despite her small production structure at Cinemascópio, she enjoys discovering new talent and working with great people. Lesclaux is involved in multiple projects, including films by Leonardo Lacca and Maya Da-Rin, and a hybrid film by Helen Beltrame-Linné. She also touched upon the complexities of international co-productions, detailing positive experiences with films like "The Secret Agent," which involved four countries: Brazil, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. She acknowledged the bureaucratic challenges but emphasized the richness of international collaboration.