The making of the samba school parades, with the construction of the great cars, the decorations being spread all over the city and the hand-crafted tailoring of the costumes by apt hands that stitch together colourful and glowing materials.
Vera de Figueiredo
as Narradora
Zózimo Bulbul
as Narrador
A panorama of Brazilian popular music from the 60s and 70s through the musical group Novos Baianos. A retrospective of the community lifestyle adopted by its members and the influence inherited from singer João Gilberto.
Documentary about the kolla people living in North Western Argentina.
An intense insider's portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo: Second-line parades, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest. Features live music from Professor Longhair, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among Blank's special masterworks. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 1999.
An animated satire on the question of self-image for African American women living in a society where beautiful hair is viewed as hair that blows in the wind and lets you be free. Lively tunes and witty narration accompany a quick-paced inventory of relaxers, gels, and curlers. This short film has become essential for discussions of racism, African American cinema, and empowerment.
The true story of the neighborhood that inspired David Simon's fictional HBO television series "Tremé", from slave revolts and underground free black antebellum resistance through post-Katrina rebuilding, set to a fabulous soundtrack of New Orleans music through the ages.
It's Different In Chicago Tells the story of how House music and Hip Hop culture complemented and competed with each other leading to deep revelations about the different segments within the Black community of Chicago.
Prepare for an eye-opening journey into the heart of identity and division. 'Tethers' is a groundbreaking interview-style documentary that delves deep into the complex tapestry of cultural differences, racial tension, and the ethnocentric divide between Africans, African Americans, and Foundation Black Americans.
A year in the life of a samba school, from the first rehearsals to the parade on the avenue.
Amid the explosion of colors, sounds, and excesses of Olinda’s 2025 Carnival, Cuceteiras VII: "Cucesniff?" dives into the behind-the-scenes of a house that becomes the epicenter of partying, chaos, and connection. A group of friends shares a roof during the most intense days of the year, living a routine filled with alcohol, drugs, unexpected guests, and catchphrases that go viral among revelers. Between laughter, hangovers, and confessions, the documentary captures the raw intensity of human connection when the masks come off — or multiply. A chaotic, honest, and irreverent chronicle of youth, freedom, and the unmistakable heat of Pernambuco’s carnival.
This short film follows Pelé, a retired nurse who looks back on his time as a Mateus in the century-old Bumba Meu Boi group, Boi Tira-Teima. As he builds a new boi for the festival, he revisits the defining moments of his journey as a performer, carnival artist, and son of Mestre Gerson, the group’s former patriarch. The film explores how the way we carry our memories of the past shapes who we become in the present.
Discover the captivating origins of an iconic little pickup from the 1960s that was transformed into a 'triozinho' and captured the hearts of countless 'foliões' during Carnaval. Through heartfelt memories, interviews, and breathtaking landscapes, this documentary, directed by Daniel Bittencourt, beautifully reveals how a group of passionate music lovers gave birth to one of Linhares’ most cherished cultural symbols, straight from Vila de Regência.
The Mangueira slum is the scenario where Tantinho and the old samba composers remember stories about the slums and samba.
