Quijote Films, the producer of Chile’s entry to the upcoming Oscars “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” has boarded “Mariana x BHP,” a Brazilian documentary directed and produced by Renan Flumian of Droma Productions.
Developed over six years and filmed across 17 cities on three continents, the documentary delves into the largest environmental lawsuit in history, following the devastating collapse of the Mariana dam in Brazil. Featuring over 200 hours of footage, the project won a cash prize at the Lau Haizetara Forum in San Sebastián and was presented this week to buyers and platforms at Madrid’s 5th Iberseries & Platino Industria.
More from Variety
Advertisement Advertisement
Quijote Films is also a co-producer on 2025 Berlinale Silver Bear winner “The Blue Trail,” which has already surpassed 150,000 admissions in Brazilian cinemas, and the upcoming “A Colmeia,” filmed earlier this year in the Atacama Desert with Brazilian producer Sara Silveira.
“Collaborating with Brazil has been an incredible experience,” said Quijote Films’ Giancarlo Nasi who said his connection to Brazil goes back many years when he studied there and, for over a decade, served as a mentor at BrLab. “I’ve seen up close the strength and resilience of their film industry. Working hand-in-hand with Brazilian partners continues to affirm why Brazil is such a valuable ally for Quijote,” he said.
“With ‘Mariana x BHP,’ we continue to strengthen our international co-production strategy, developing content across the Americas and beyond. Next year, we’ll be in production on projects with partners in Canada, Argentina, Mexico and the U.S. Creating global content with international talent is part of our DNA—just like the commitment to excellence and craft we’ve inherited from auteur cinema,” he pointed out.
“This week at Iberseries, as we presented it to platforms, we felt we had a film with a strong identity – socially and politically resonant, yet with the potential to reach a wide audience. We’re shaping it with the tone of a legal thriller: compelling, critical of the system, conversation-starting, but also deeply engaging,” said Quijote Films producer Sergio Karmy, who extended his gratitude to the Quijote team led by their department head Eugenia Campos, who “together with Giancarlo, is behind the entire creative universe – the pitches, the decks, all the incredible materials we use every day.”
Advertisement Advertisement
“As a Brazilian director, I’ve witnessed firsthand the stories of the victims in Brazil and the lawyers who formed an unprecedented alliance to take on the world’s largest mining company,” said Flumian who had been closely following the unprecedented class action in London for six years.
He added: “This documentary follows their fight for justice and the broader potential of the case to reshape how multinational corporations are held accountable—not just in Latin America, but across the Global South. Starting from a local tragedy, the film reveals how global power actually operates, through a narrative that is gripping, emotional and resonates with audiences around the world.”
Flumian’s previous credits include “The Hardest Conversation to Have With Your Parents” (NYT Op-Docs, 2024), which was lauded internationally for its raw portrayal of intergenerational conversations about intimacy; the documentary series “Acende a Luz “(Globoplay, 2023), which explores sexuality in later life and the upcoming action-comedy “Velhos Bandidos,“ starring the legendary Fernanda Montenegro, nominated for an Academy Award for her perf in Walter Salles’ “Central Station” and a star of “I’m Still Here.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
[SRC] https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/movies/articles/chile-quijote-films-boards-san-053000806.html
