Bandeira

Direction
João Paulo Miranda Maria
Country
France, Brazil
Format
Feature film
Type
Fiction
Original title
Bandeira
Film presented in Toulouse

Memory House – Compétition Long-métrage de fiction 2021

Scenario
João Paulo Miranda Maria

João Paulo Miranda Maria

João Paulo Miranda Maria was born in 1982 in Porto Feliz (Sao Paulo), inland city of Brazil. He graduated in Cinema and Master by Unicamp. João is a Teacher at UNIMEP University and coordinates a film collective called Kino-Olho in the city of Rio Claro, São Paulo. His cinema is inspired by the countryside reality where he lives. After participating in Critic’s Week – Next Step LAB, in partnership with Torino Film LAB, he developed Memory House at the Cinéfondation residency in Paris. Memory House is his first feature.

Filmography

Memory House, feature film, 2020 
Cannes 2020 Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival 2020 / Discovery section, San Sebastián Film Festival 2020 / New Directors

Meninas Formicidas, short film, 2017
Mostra internazionale d’arte cinematografica di Venezia | Italia (2017), Rio de Jaeniro International Short Film Festival – Curta Cinema | Brazil (2017) , Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival | France (2018), México Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de México | Mexico (2018) Awards : Goiânia Mostra Curtas | Best Film (Award SESC TV) | Brazil (2017), Festival Kinoarte de Cinema | Best sound | Brazil (2017), Panorama Internacional Coisa de Cinema | Best short film | Brazil (2017) – Command Action, short film, 2015 Festivals : Festival de Cannes – Compétition officielle court-métrage | France (2016), New York Film Festival | USA (2016), Hong Kong International Film Festival | Chine (2016), Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena de Indias | Colombie (2016) Awards : Prix :
Festival de Cannes – Compétition officielle court-métrage | Mention Spéciale | France (2016)
Cinema Brazil Grand Prize | Brésil (2016) – The Girl Who Danced with the Devil, short film2016 Festivals : Semaine de la Critique – Festival de Cannes | France (2015), Brasilia Film Festival | Brésil (2015), Festival Internacional de curtas metragens de São Paulo| Brésil (2015), Janela Internacional de Cinema do Recife | Brésil (2015) Awards : Brasilia Film Festival | Prix du Meilleur Son | Brésil (2015)

Note of intent

My father once had a dream: a young Indian receives a message from elsewhere, a key to save our world. But nobody’s listening. I was born in Porto Feliz, the only access for Portuguese explorers to sail on the Tiete River in expeditions called “bandeiras”, in the 17th century. Jonas will personify the struggle between man and nature that is deeply rooted in the history of Brazil. Bandeira will endeavour to capture this Indian’s cry for help in my father’s dream. I hope we will listen to him.

Synopsis

At the end of the 17th century, in the heart of the Amazon, a Portuguese settler is in search of gold to restore his family’s former prestige. Jonas, a young boy with indigenous and European origins, dreams of continuing the quest for gold initiated by his ancestors. Torn between two roots, he will sooner or later have to confront his past to understand the true origins of this quest, and discover who he really is.

Visual concept

João’s films deal with conflicts between cultures. The intention is to bring the perception of nature as something translucent, an untouchable aura. João’s attraction for the indigenous culture is motivated by its spiritual connection with the forest. His participation in shamanic meetings has inspired him a new way of observing nature. The relationship between textures, sounds and the speed of thought is then intensified. The goal is to involve a physical and intense perception.

Objectives sought in Films in Development

Presenting the project to potential funds, sales agents, private investors and LATAM, EU and US co-producers.

Planned shooting location

State of Amapá (Brazil) and French Guiana (France)

Percentage of funding in place
8%
Project's development phase

Development

Production
Les Valseurs
Coproduction
RT Features
Producer's biography

Justin Pechberty is a French producer and distributor. After spending four years in Cyprus and six more years in Egypt and French Guiana, he started academic studies in Paris where he met Damien Megherbi. Together, they longed to tackle new artistic worlds and decided to found their production and distribution company Les Valseurs in March 2013.