Acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho has expressed a strong desire to re-team with the American distribution powerhouse Neon for his upcoming projects, citing an exceptionally positive and impactful collaboration on his critically lauded film, "The Secret Agent." The declaration comes after a year of extensive global promotion for the film, which garnered significant international recognition, including four Oscar nominations and two prestigious awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Mendonça Filho articulated his appreciation for Neon’s role in the film’s success during a candid on-stage conversation with his producing partner, Emilie Lesclaux, at the recent Projeto Paradiso National Talent Network Meeting. The event, held in their hometown of Recife, Brazil, provided a platform for key figures in the Brazilian film industry to discuss their work and future endeavors.
A Year on the Global Circuit: The Making of a Cinematic Journey
Mendonça Filho, known for his distinctive cinematic voice, described the past year as an intense and illuminating period spent traversing the globe to champion "The Secret Agent." He shared with Variety his unique perspective on the promotional journey, viewing it as an invaluable opportunity to immerse himself within the broader landscape of cinema. "I have a big curiosity about walking within cinema as a space," Mendonça Filho remarked. "I have no issues giving interviews, I try not to repeat myself, and I love travelling. No one travels like we did [with ‘The Secret Agent’], but it made a huge difference." This extensive travel allowed him to gain firsthand insights into various facets of the film industry, from the intricacies of commercial and prestige cinema to the dynamics of screening rooms, festivals, critical reception, and audience engagement.
The director is currently in the process of penning a book that chronicles this whirlwind experience, characterizing it as a "crazy" yet profoundly enriching endeavor. "It is not every year that I get the chance to wander within this cinema space like that and get an idea of commercial cinema, prestige cinema, screening rooms, festivals, critics, audiences… It was a great experience, and Neon did brilliant work," he stated. His endorsement of Neon was unequivocal, concluding, "I hope my next film also goes to Neon. No one knows what will happen, but it made a big difference working with a big player like Neon."
Navigating the American Awards Machine: A Human-Centric Approach
Reflecting on the demanding nature of navigating the American awards circuit, a process that often involves extensive campaigning and strategic outreach, Mendonça Filho described it as a "very particular" experience. However, he emphasized that the core of the process remained deeply human. "But at the end of the day, we are dealing with people, and these are people who love film," he asserted. He lauded Neon’s ability to balance the commercial demands of the film business with a genuine passion for cinema. "With Neon, they can make film work as a business, but they are also film people," Mendonça Filho explained. "They love ‘The Secret Agent,’ and we had such a fun, smart, and joyful relationship over 10 months." This sentiment underscores a key aspect of successful film distribution: the synergy between business acumen and artistic appreciation.
Mendonça Filho also clarified the dynamics of partnership selection in the film industry, noting that creative teams often do not have the luxury of choosing every collaborator. "I did not choose Neon; they chose me," he revealed. "We have worked with smaller distributors before and had great experiences, but if people are interested in your work and you have Neon as an option, it is not even a choice." This highlights the significant advantage that a well-established and influential distributor can bring to a film’s trajectory, particularly in competitive markets like the United States.
The Genesis of Collaboration: Finding the Right Partners
The conversation also touched upon the crucial role of identifying synergistic partnerships, both in production and distribution. Mendonça Filho recounted the pivotal moment when he and Lesclaux realized that MK2, the French production and distribution company, was the ideal producing partner for "The Secret Agent." This realization solidified during a brief lunch in Cannes in 2023. "It was immediately clear to us how serious they were about ‘The Secret Agent’," Mendonça Filho recalled. "We had a 90-minute lunch and that was it. It’s also a matter of chemistry." This anecdote emphasizes the importance of chemistry and shared vision in forging long-term creative alliances.
Post-Success Landscape: New Horizons and Future Projects
The overwhelming success of "The Secret Agent," a genre-bending period film that defied easy categorization, has naturally led to a surge of interest in Mendonça Filho’s future work. His inbox is reportedly inundated with meeting requests and scripts from various international parties. "I’ve been getting so many requests about international projects and I am totally open," he stated, acknowledging the potential for global collaborations. "I like the idea of making one, but I am not sure if it will happen."
While international ventures remain a possibility, Mendonça Filho is already deeply engaged in conceptualizing his next cinematic endeavor. This project is slated to be set in his native Recife, but with a temporal shift to the 1930s, suggesting a continued exploration of the city’s rich history and cultural tapestry. This move signals a commitment to his roots while potentially exploring new thematic and aesthetic territories.
Emilie Lesclaux: A Producer’s Perspective on Growth and Global Reach
Emilie Lesclaux, a prominent producer with Cinemascópio, offered her insights from her early days as a producer in Recife, highlighting the supportive nature of the local film community prior to the introduction of regional incentives in 2008. She has since risen to become one of Brazil’s leading producers, with a significant international reputation, making her a highly sought-after figure at industry events like Projeto Paradiso.
Lesclaux acknowledged the constraints of Cinemascópio’s "very small structure," which limits the number of projects they can undertake. However, she expressed her deep satisfaction in "discovering new talent and working with great people." Her current slate reflects this commitment, including a new feature film by Leonardo Lacca, the assistant director on "The Secret Agent," Maya Da-Rin’s latest project, and the debut feature of Helen Beltrame-Linné, a hybrid film inspired by the lawyer’s unexpected directorial role at the Bergman Foundation in Sweden.
The Art of Balancing: Managing Multiple Projects and Creative Demands
When questioned about her ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, Lesclaux described it as a demanding "balancing act." This is further compounded by her close involvement with Mendonça Filho’s films from their inception. "It’s not easy to manage several projects as a producer while dealing with a film like ‘The Secret Agent’," she admitted. "It’s a lot." This candid admission underscores the immense workload and dedication required of producers in the contemporary film landscape, especially those working on ambitious, high-profile projects.
International Co-Productions: A Necessity and a Richness
Lesclaux also elaborated on her growing interest and experience in international co-productions. She traced the origins of this aspect of her career back to the 2016 film "Aquarius," when she was approached by Tunisian-French director Saïd Ben Saïd. "It was a natural process that began with ‘Aquarius’ because Kleber met this French producer who was interested in his work after ‘Neighboring Sounds’ and wanted to work with us. We were contacted directly," she explained. Initially driven by creative interest, the necessity for international co-productions later became a financial imperative as their projects grew in scope and budget.
Beyond the financial considerations, Lesclaux emphasized the profound artistic and professional enrichment that international collaborations offer. "But, on top of the financing aspect of it, there is also a richness in getting to know other professionals in the world we want to work with. I love doing post-production in a different country," she stated. This perspective highlights how co-productions can foster a broader understanding of global filmmaking practices and create valuable cross-cultural exchanges.
Navigating the Complexities of Global Filmmaking
While acknowledging the immense benefits, Lesclaux also candidly addressed the inherent challenges of international co-productions. "It can also be a very complicated process in certain cases," she cautioned. "It is a very bureaucratic, slow process that can take years and be quite challenging." She cited "The Secret Agent" as an example of a successful, albeit complex, multi-country collaboration involving Brazil, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Despite the hurdles, she concluded that the experience was "very positive and enriching," underscoring the ultimate rewards of such endeavors in expanding cinematic horizons and fostering international artistic dialogue. The continued success of filmmakers like Mendonça Filho and producers like Lesclaux, supported by distributors like Neon and international partners, points to a vibrant and evolving landscape for global cinema.
