RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — In the upcoming edition of the Rio International Film Festival, China will be spotlighted as the featured country, coinciding with the 2026 China-Brazil Cultural Year, as announced by Walkiria Barbosa, the festival’s executive director and head of international marketing.
This initiative was disclosed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Brazil in November 2024, where the two nations revealed plans for an extensive programming lineup for the Cultural Year, which is currently under development.
“China holds the title of the largest film market globally. Our goal for the 2026 Rio Fest is to engage major Chinese film production studios, streaming platforms, and distributors for significant business meetings and screenings of Chinese cinematic works,” Barbosa shared with Variety.
The China Media Group (CMG) showcased a presentation on October 3 during RioMarket, the festival’s business forum, featuring CMG’s Latin America head Zhu Boying and China’s consul in Rio, Tian Min.
Following the presentation, CMG launched “Shenzhou 13,” the first-ever 8K film made in space, which debuted theatrically across China on September 5.
This remarkable film chronicles the lives of astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu during the Shenzhou-13 mission that began on October 16, 2021. The crew achieved an impressive 183-day stint in space, setting a record for the longest uninterrupted mission by Chinese astronauts.
With breathtaking visuals of the cosmos and day-to-day life on board, filmed using advanced 8K ultra-high-definition cameras, most footage was captured by the astronauts themselves, guided by Wang’s narrative perspective.
Currently, a significant Brazil-China co-production is in progress, spearheaded by Rio’s own LC Barreto in collaboration with CCTV Animation, a CMG subsidiary. They are working on a television animation series as well as a feature film, both featuring the character Panda HoHo, known from other CMG productions.
“Hoho & The Tropical Sound Clash” is a 3D animated series aimed at preschool audiences, with plans for four seasons comprising 13 episodes each, each episode lasting 10 minutes.
According to series showrunner Joao Amorim, the initial season is anticipated to premiere in the latter half of 2026 on Brazil’s TV Cultura and CCTV Animation in China. Zhang Fan is directing the animation for the series.
In this series, Panda HoHo teams up with a trio of Brazilian wildlife, including a Golden Lion Tamarin – a symbol of Brazil’s rich biodiversity – and Capy, a daring capybara. Each episode sees them exploring Brazil’s diverse environments, cultural heritage, and imparting key messages about conservation and teamwork.
The second project from LC Barreto and CCTV is titled “Amazonika – The Origin,” a 3D animated feature that depicts the re-creation of the Amazon Rainforest, showcasing its historical ties between Asian cultures and Brazil’s Indigenous heritage. Panda HoHo will assist Zo, a young man with the ability to communicate with nature, and Nika, a courageous princess warrior, on their quest to restore balance in a world on the brink of disaster.
“We are collaborating with two Indigenous Brazilian consultants for these projects. Benki Piyãko, from the Asháninka people, and Zezinho Yube, representing the Huni Kuin community, are providing valuable insights,” Amorim explained.
