Executive Overview
In a landmark acknowledgment of private enterprise empowering public culture, Brazilian philanthropist Olga Rabinovich has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Prémio Encontros (Encounters Award). The honor will be presented during the opening gala ceremony of the Encontro de Ideias Audiovisuais—the premier industry platform of the prestigious São Paulo International Film Festival (Mostra Internacional de Cinema de São Paulo)—on October 14.
The award, specifically engineered to highlight the transformative impact of private investment in the arts, serves as a testament to Rabinovich’s unwavering dedication to Brazilian cinema. Through the Olga Rabinovich Institute and its flagship initiative, Projeto Paradiso, Rabinovich has spent the last eight years redefining the lifecycle of national storytelling. By fostering homegrown talent, forging crucial international partnerships, and injecting strategic private funding into a historically volatile sector, she has elevated the global profile of Brazilian filmmakers and elevated South American narratives onto the world stage.
Following the gala presentation, Rabinovich’s recognition will immediately precede a high-profile, in-conversation keynote event featuring Neon President Jeff Deutchman, bridging the conversation between local philanthropic impact and international distribution mastery. As the São Paulo International Film Festival prepares to launch its milestone 50th edition running from October 15 to October 29, the celebration of Rabinovich stands as a powerful reminder of how visionary individuals can reshape creative ecosystems.
Detailed Chronology: From Hospital Wards to the Vanguard of Cinema
The journey of Olga Rabinovich from a compassionate volunteer to a cornerstone of Latin American cinema is as unconventional as it is impactful. Born and raised in São Paulo, Rabinovich initially dedicated her early years to healthcare philanthropy, volunteering extensively in local hospitals and working intimately with terminally ill patients. This deep, existential engagement with human narrative, vulnerability, and mortality deeply informed her worldview. She came to recognize that stories are not merely forms of entertainment, but fundamental human necessities that help societies process pain, celebrate joy, and understand diverse perspectives.
The Genesis of the Institute (2018)
By 2018, Brazil’s cultural and audiovisual sectors were facing an atmosphere of impending fiscal and political uncertainty. Anticipating a challenging climate for public arts funding, Rabinovich decided to channel her philanthropic vision into the cinematic arts. Driven by the core philosophy that "stories can change the world," she established the Olga Rabinovich Institute.
Simultaneously, she launched Projeto Paradiso. The timing was critical. Announced officially during the 42nd edition of the São Paulo International Film Festival, the initiative arrived as an immediate beacon of hope for an industry bracing for austerity. The partnership between the festival and the newly formed institute was instantaneous, laying the groundwork for a symbiotic relationship that has only deepened over the last eight years.
Scaling Up and Global Integration (2019–2024)
In the years following its inception, Projeto Paradiso rapidly evolved from a localized funding vehicle into a sophisticated, multi-tiered talent incubator. Recognizing that Brazilian films often lacked the international networks required to break through global markets, Rabinovich and her team systematically built a bridge between Brazilian creators and the world.
By 2024, the initiative had expanded its footprint at the São Paulo International Film Festival by introducing targeted distribution grants and forging structural partnerships with world-renowned institutions. Notably, Projeto Paradiso acted as a primary catalyst for the creation of HBF+Brazil, a partnership born from initial dialogues at the festival’s Encontro de Ideias that teamed local efforts with the prestigious Hubert Bals Fund.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Architecture of Impact
Projeto Paradiso’s operational model is built on addressing the entire lifecycle of a cinematic project—from early-stage script development and creative residencies to post-production, international sales, and theatrical distribution.
Talent Incubation and Training
At the heart of the initiative is the Paradiso Talent Network, which currently encompasses nearly 280 elite Brazilian screen professionals (ranging from 264 to 278 documented alumni depending on the cohort cycle). The program provides fellowships, specialized workshops, international writers’ labs, and mentorship programs. Notable alumni and beneficiaries of the broader network read like a roll call of contemporary Latin American cinema:
- Anita Rocha da Silveira (Medusa)
- Juliana Rojas (Good Manners)
- Dira Paes (Manas)
- Allan Deberton (director of the Berlinale-winning Gugu’s World)
- Grace Passô (director of Our Secret)
Global Partnerships
Projeto Paradiso does not operate in a vacuum. To maximize the global reach of Brazilian talent, the organization has curated an expansive alliance network comprising over 250 partner institutions both domestically and internationally. Key global collaborators include:
- The Hubert Bals Fund (Netherlands)
- La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français (France)
- TorinoFilmLab (Italy)
- Film Independent (United States)
- The Sundance Institute (United States)
The Launch of Screen Brasil (2025)
Demonstrating an acute understanding that a completed film is only as good as its market reach, Projeto Paradiso teamed up with the Embratur Brazilian Tourism Board in 2025 to launch Screen Brasil. This strategic initiative supports four Brazilian films annually across two distinct funding cycles—with the latest call concluding on October 2.
Screen Brasil provides vital financial backing for international distribution campaigns, with applications submitted directly by the international sales agencies holding the commercial rights. Announced at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival in May, the initiative has already backed high-profile festival titles, including:
- Gabriel Mascaro’s The Blue Trail
- Rafaela Camelo’s The Nature of Invisible Things
- The anticipated animated feature Papaya
Official Statements: Perspectives on Philanthropy and Art
The significance of the inaugural Prémio Encontros is perhaps best understood through the words of those who have witnessed the transformation of Brazil’s cinematic landscape firsthand.
Renata de Almeida, director of the São Paulo International Film Festival, reflected on the origins of the partnership and the deep personal inspiration behind the award:
"Olga Rabinovich is the first recipient of the newly created Prémio Encontros, because she was the inspiration behind the award. I first heard Olga’s name in early 2018, when Josephine Bourgois came to see me about someone from the private sector who wanted to create an institute dedicated to cinema. The Olga Rabinovich Institute was announced during the 42nd Mostra, bringing a breath of hope at a time that promised to be particularly difficult for Brazilian film and culture."
Almeida continued, emphasizing the tangible results and the human element behind the institutional success:
"Eight years later, Projeto Paradiso… has already made a major contribution to discovering and championing a new generation of talent, strengthening Brazil’s audiovisual sector as a whole. Projeto Paradiso has an outstanding professional team, as its results clearly demonstrate. But the image that stays with me is of a meeting with Olga, climbing the winding stairs of our little building for a somewhat chaotic coffee in the festival’s office. Because, in the end, almost everything really does begin with an encounter."
In an exclusive interview with Variety earlier this year—conducted ahead of the third Projeto Paradiso National Network Meeting in Brazil’s production epicenter of Recife—Rabinovich articulated her profound, almost spiritual connection to the medium:
"I loved the idea of supporting cinema because I feel it is a magical art form. You enter a screening room without knowing whether you’ll be elated or disturbed or moved. It’s a transformative experience. I think it’s incredible to have a communal artistic experience that moves you like this."
Future Outlook: A Landmark Milestone for Brazilian Cinema
As the global entertainment industry looks toward São Paulo for the landmark 50th edition of the International Film Festival—running from October 15 to October 29—the honoring of Olga Rabinovich serves as a timely reminder of the resilience of independent art.
In eras where public funding for the arts faces systemic vulnerability, the model pioneered by the Olga Rabinovich Institute offers a sustainable blueprint. By combining private capital with curatorial integrity, global networking, and rigorous professional training, Projeto Paradiso has successfully shifted the paradigm for South American creators.
The establishment of the Prémio Encontros ensures that Rabinovich’s pioneering intervention will not only be celebrated as an isolated act of generosity, but institutionalized as a benchmark for future philanthropic leadership. As Brazilian cinema continues to capture top prizes at international festivals like Berlin, Cannes, and Venice, the quiet coffee meetings in festival stairwells and the strategic fellowships funded by Projeto Paradiso will undoubtedly remain the invisible engine driving these triumphs onto global screens.
