São Paulo – Registration are open for film contest The Arabs and 25th of March Street (Os Árabes e a 25 de Março, in Portuguese),held via a partnership between the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Arab Culture (Icarabe). Each applicant may submit up to two short films lasting up to 15 minutes each. Registration is available at http://www.curta25.com.br/. The contest has been designed to retrieve the memory of (popular commercial street) 25th of March Street, and to create a collection of films and history about Arab immigration to the region.
The street’s name is a reference to the date on which emperor D. Pedro I enacted Brazil’s first Constitution, in 1824. Since the late 19th century, Arab immigrants to Brazil settled in the area, in downtown São Paulo. Apart from living in the area, many of them opened businesses on streets like 25th of March, Ladeira Porto Geral, Comendador Abdo Schahin Street and Barão de Duprat Street, among others.
The 25th of March is also the date on which the arrival of Arab immigrants to Brazil is celebrated. Presently, many of the businesses are managed by the sons and grandsons of immigrants. The Arab Chamber director for Culture, Silvia Antibas, has said that although the 25th of March Street area attracts thousands of people from across Brazil, there is little documentation of its history, scant photographs and barely any film. The film festival is an opportunity to encourage film production about the region. The winning films will be a part of the Arab Chamber and Icarabe collections.
All genres are accepted, including documentary, fiction and animation. Anyone may apply. Three prizes will be granted: Young Filmmakers (Jovens Realizadores), for filmmakers under 18; Official Jury, for those aged above 18; and Popular Jury, i.e. the audience’s choice. Registration ends on October 13th.
To apply, go to http://www.curta25.com.br/, read the regulation and upload your film(s) to www.shortfilmdepot.com under “Concurso ‘Os Árabes e a 25 de Março” (in Portuguese). Once the film has been uploaded to short film depot, the applicant must fill in the form on the contest website, scan it and email it to cinema@icarabe.org.br. Registration is free of charge.
Service
Contest "The Arabs on 25th of March Street"
For additional information go to http://www.curta25.com.br/
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
