The State Secretary of Culture sponsored , alogside RioFilme , a total of 20 film festivals in the capital and the countryside of the Rio de Janeiro State through the Public Call for Production of Film Festivals .
Divided into categories , we made possible the emergence of new and small festivals that had their first edition , many in cities on the countryside holding a film festival for the first time ; and we also gave new breath to major festivals that have been happening for many years and are fundamental for Rio de Janeiro ’ s audiovisual culture . People are watching , thinking and living films throughout the year in several screens .
Film festivals put together almost every link in cinema : the diffusion of production , the shaping of an audience , the critic debate , the improvement of filmmakers . Those events put cinema in its place of excellence : the dark room taken by a diversity of people . It is where historically audiences and filmmakers are shaped , where the films come alive and life is touched by the films .
We recognize film festivals as the essence of cinematic activity and we hope the audience will become more and more present to see , debate and make movies together .
ANDRÉ LAZARONI , STATE SECRETARY OF CULTURE AND PRESIDENT OF THEATRO MUNICIPAL - RJ
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