RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The Rio International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, October 2, with the debut of Luca Guadagnino’s film “After The Hunt.” This event is pivotal for enhancing the city’s cultural influence and fortifying both its film and television industry, along with establishing Rio as a prime location for filming, according to an exclusive interview with Eduardo Paes, the Mayor of Rio.
Paes emphasized that the city has emerged as a leading filming destination worldwide. Since 2021, there has been significant growth in filming activities, with Rio surpassing prominent cities like Paris and Mexico City in number of filming days in 2023. The Rio Film Commission reported an impressive total of 8,782 filming days from 505 productions in 2024, which included 27 international projects, representing a 100% increase from the previous year.
Looking ahead to the period from January to September 2025, Paes mentioned that the Rio Film Commission has already authorized 8,174 filming days, suggesting that the previous record set in 2024 may soon be exceeded.
He attributed the success of attracting various productions to a cash rebate system initiated by his administration in 2022, which offers producers filming in Rio discounts of up to 35% on qualifying local expenses.
“The demand for Rio as a filming location, both for Brazilian and international productions, is continually growing, establishing our city as a benchmark in the global film industry. From January to September this year, at least 30 film crews were working concurrently on Rio’s streets,” Paes noted.
Paes further highlighted that Rio Fest showcases the city as the cinema capital of Latin America for 10 days. He likened the festival’s schedule to running a marathon, given the extensive figures: this year’s edition will feature approximately 900 screenings of 186 films from 74 different countries, including 124 Brazilian films. The international lineup boasts some of the best cinema worldwide, featuring 16 submissions for the International Feature Film Oscar.
He also pointed out that the 27th edition of Rio Fest will welcome 120 esteemed guests, including French film icon Juliette Binoche, who will not only present her directorial debut but also commemorate 200 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and France. Other notable attendees include Bill Kramer, the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Thomas Rosso, a programmer for Cannes’ Critics’ Week, among many others.
“Countries such as South Korea have made significant investments and evolved into global audiovisual leaders, accessing dominant markets and sharing their brands, narratives, and culture. The creative industry in the U.S. economy is equally influential. The streaming landscape has expanded and transformed swiftly over the last decade,” remarked Paes.
“Rio is a city that is naturally suited for this, owing to the historical resilience of our audiovisual sector, the breathtaking scenery of our varied landmarks, and a favorable environment that nurtures talent, skilled companies, and compelling stories – positioning the city as a central hub for the industry in Brazil,” he concluded.
