Philanthropist Olga Rabinovich to Receive Inaugural Prêmio Encontros at São Paulo International Film Festival

Philanthropist and cultural patron Olga Rabinovich is set to receive the inaugural Prêmio Encontros (Encounters Award) at this year’s edition of Encontro de Ideias Audiovisuais, the prominent industry platform of the São Paulo International Film Festival. The prestigious honor recognizes her enduring, steadfast commitment to advancing Brazilian cinema and elevating the international profile of Brazilian films and homegrown creative talent through her groundbreaking work with Projeto Paradiso.

The Encounters Award was specifically conceived and created to spotlight the transformative, vital role that private investment plays in funding and sustaining culture. By bridging the gap between private funders and the creative professionals behind innovative audiovisual productions, the platform fosters dialogue and strategic growth. The inaugural honor will be officially bestowed upon Rabinovich during the event’s opening gala ceremony on October 14. Her recognition will also immediately precede an exclusive in-conversation event featuring Neon president Jeff Deutchman, drawing key international and domestic figures from across the film industry.

Born in São Paulo, Rabinovich spent formative years volunteering in local hospitals, where she worked closely and compassionately with terminally ill patients. This deep exposure to human vulnerability and the profound impact of shared experiences eventually shaped her worldview. In 2018, she founded the Olga Rabinovich Institute, launching Projeto Paradiso soon after. The initiative was dedicated to the advancement and modernization of the Brazilian audiovisual sector. It grew organically out of her core belief that stories have the innate power to change the world, as well as a deliberate, forward-thinking decision to invest directly in the people who create those stories and strive to share them with audiences worldwide.

Reflecting on the inception of the honor, Renata de Almeida, director of the São Paulo International Film Festival, emphasized the profound connection between the award and its very first recipient. "Olga Rabinovich is the first recipient of the newly created Prêmio Encontros, because she was the inspiration behind the award," said de Almeida.

Recalling the early days of the initiative, the festival director shared how she first heard Rabinovich’s name in early 2018, when Josephine Bourgois approached her regarding someone from the private sector who wanted to establish an institute entirely dedicated to cinema. The Olga Rabinovich Institute was subsequently announced during the 42nd edition of the Mostra, arriving as a welcome breath of hope during a period that promised to be particularly difficult for Brazilian film and national culture.

"Eight years later, Projeto Paradiso, an initiative of the Olga Rabinovich Institute, has already made a major contribution to discovering and championing a new generation of talent, strengthening Brazil’s audiovisual sector as a whole," de Almeida continued, praising the organization’s trajectory. "Projeto Paradiso has an outstanding professional team, as its results clearly demonstrate. But the image that stays with me is of a meeting with Olga, climbing the winding stairs of our little building for a somewhat chaotic coffee in the festival’s office. Because, in the end, almost everything really does begin with an encounter."

Earlier this year, ahead of the third Projeto Paradiso National Network Meeting held in Brazil’s bustling production hub of Recife, Rabinovich reflected on her journey into film philanthropy during an interview. She noted that she simply loved the idea of supporting cinema because she feels it is a magical art form. Entering a screening room without knowing whether a film will leave a viewer elated, disturbed, or deeply moved creates a truly transformative experience, she observed, calling it incredible to share a communal artistic experience that evokes such powerful emotions.

Projeto Paradiso offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging system of support designed to maximize the presence of Brazilian screen professionals on the global stage. The organization actively supports the development of compelling stories through targeted fellowships, artist residencies, specialized workshops, and various training and international reach initiatives. Over the years, the Paradiso Talent Network has expanded significantly, now comprising nearly 280 Brazilian film professionals who benefit from mentorship and global exposure.

Beyond direct professional development, the organization acts as a crucial bridge connecting Brazilian talent and projects with the wider international film industry. It maintains a robust network of more than 250 partner institutions both within Brazil and abroad. This impressive roster of global collaborators includes esteemed organizations such as the Hubert Bals Fund, La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français, TorinoFilmLab, Film Independent, and the Sundance Institute, all of which help facilitate international co-productions and cultural exchange.

The tangible impact of Projeto Paradiso is clearly visible in the international festival circuit, where the initiative has recently backed several celebrated titles. These include Allan Deberton’s Berlinale-winning "Gugu’s World" and Grace Passô’s "Our Secret." Furthermore, its growing talent network features a stellar lineup of contemporary Brazilian filmmakers and actors, including Anita Rocha da Silveira, director of "Medusa"; Juliana Rojas, known for "Good Manners"; and acclaimed actress and director Dira Paes, recognized for "Manas."

In a major push for international visibility, Projeto Paradiso teamed up with the Embratur Brazilian Tourism Board in 2025 to launch Screen Brasil. The initiative provides targeted funding for four Brazilian films a year, divided across two application calls, designed to bolster their international distribution campaigns. Applications for these grants must be submitted directly by the international sales agents holding the commercial rights to the respective films. Announced at the Marché du Film in Cannes this past May, the slate of backed films includes Gabriel Mascaro’s "The Blue Trail," Rafaela Camelo’s "The Nature of Invisible Things," and the anticipated animated feature "Papaya."

The historical relationship between Projeto Paradiso and the São Paulo International Film Festival runs deep, dating back to 2018 when the philanthropic initiative was first unveiled to the public during the festival’s 42nd edition. Ever since that initial rollout, Projeto Paradiso has steadily expanded its footprint and institutional presence at the festival year after year.

Since 2023, the organization has presented the annual Paradiso Distribution Support Award, which provides a substantial distribution grant dedicated to the commercial theatrical release of a standout fiction feature. Building on this momentum, Projeto Paradiso served as one of the primary driving forces behind a strategic partnership with the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) in 2024. This collaboration led directly to the creation of HBF+Brazil, following initial high-level discussions that took place at the Encontro de Ideias platform.

The milestones and celebrations surrounding private arts investment will culminate at the milestone 50th edition of the São Paulo International Film Festival, which is scheduled to run from October 15 through October 29.