Luiz Toledo from São Paulo launches Filomena Productions
Luiz Toledo, the former very active director of investments and strategic partnerships at Spcine, São Paulo’s film commission, has launched Filomena Productions, a private sector consultancy that aims to help provide missing links between fast-growing audiovisual centers in Brazil, Latin America and the world. Southern and established international markets.
Toledo was a mover and shaker in São Paulo’s film-TV scene and was one of the architects of a pioneering cash discount in Sao Paulo for foreign and international Brazilian filming – launched by São Paulo City Hall in 2019 and from 2023 also embraced by the state of São Paulo. in a newly amplified edition.
Distinguished by asking for a positive discrimination policy in the financing of bids, together with a strong first wave of global investments in streamers from the “3%” of 2016 up to the mega production “Senna” of November this year, the discount positioned Sao Paulo as not only the dominant but also the most internationally oriented film-TV hubs in Brazil.
Under his leadership, Spcine’s international division attracted $366 million in audiovisual sales, Toledo estimates. He also fostered collaborations within Brazil, Latin America and Africa.
Now Filomena Productions will further what Toledo loves: “expanding the international reach of productions and production companies,” he said. Variety – but across a broad spectrum of consultancy services, aiming for the same growth and development as the global South industry, by offering a range of consultancy services.
One goal is to facilitate co-productions: connecting filmmakers and producers in emerging markets with partners in established film industries, Toledo told Variety. Filomena also aims to attract international investment, identify and secure financing opportunities from global investors for promising projects originating from the Global South, and develop and implement market access strategies, helping companies expand their reach into new international markets expand and build sustainable global networks. added.
“By working closely with governments, industry stakeholders and creative professionals, Filomena Productions aims to empower the Global South to become a more important player in the global film industry and amplify diverse voices on the world stage,” said Toledo.
Two more services will be strategic guidance in navigating international film festivals and markets – providing expert advice on maximizing exposure and securing distribution deals – and assisting governments in the Global South to develop and implement policies to promote robust audiovisual industries: working with governments to create a supportive environment for the growth of the audiovisual sector.
Filomena has signed its first contract with Brazil’s Mixer Films, producer of HBO Latin American Original “El Negocio” and the critically acclaimed film “Besouro.” Filomena is expected to announce additional and significant consultancy agreements soon.
The launch comes at an important time of much greater foreign exposure for Brazilian film and TV, as Walter Salles’ Oscar-shortlisted “I’m Still Here” won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Fernanda Torres, and the Netflix/Gullane produced ‘Senna’. launched the largest budgeted Brazilian series in history on November 29. It spent weeks in the Netflix Top 10 non-English TV charts.
“It is a special moment for the international industry to see Brazil as an important manufacturing center. This is exactly the reason for creating Filomena. To ‘prove’ or guarantee more developed film markets that the global South can deliver the same quality, but with lower prices and also new stories/stories. The world can no longer bear to watch ‘Fast and Furious’ issue 156,” Toledo shared Variety.
TV season orders from major global SVOD services in Brazil appear to have peaked in volume in 2024, according to Ampere Analysis.
That global streamer correction has of course been felt worldwide. Production companies are increasingly looking outside Brazil, Latin America and the South for co-production partners and financing.
Filomena needs to be kept busy.
