25th
Feb - 8th Mar 2005
When
asked what people in the UK last remember about hearing
of Brazil in a survey the majority plumped for the
World Cup, but just behind this was the oscar-nominated
'City of God' film. Now some of the film's actors
plan to tour Europe (including the UK) to share their
experiences.
Many of them are currently involved in media based
organisation Nos do Cinema (We In Cinema) helped by
the director of the film, Fernando Meirelles. |
'City
of God'
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The original group was recruited in preparation for filming
'City of God', and it is now a well-known media training organisation
providing up to 200 young people from Rio's poorest neighbourhoods
opportunities to learn skills and get jobs.
Nos
do Cinema (NDC) want to establish links with a variety of
youth groups and film organisations by putting on a range
of workshops. They urgently want to raise much needed funds
to develop their project and make real their biggest dream
of having their own building. They asked UK charity Action
for Brazil's Children (ABC) Trust to help co-ordinate the
exchange and met some of the touring, transportation and other
costs. The Trust has provided grant support to Nos do Cinema
with more committed.
The ABC Trust aims to raise funds to support projects to help
street children and young people at risk, including projects
like Nos do Cinema. Dr Else Vieira, Professor of Brazilian
Studies at Queen Mary University also agreed to assist in
co-ordination and translation work.
Filming
'City of God'
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The
Nos do Cinema touring group consist of: Diego
Batista, Renato de Souza and Luis Carlos Nascimento.
Renato played Marreco in 'City of God', and he has recently
played the main character in another big Brazilian movie
'Quase Dois Irmaos' which won best direction in the
Rio Film Festival 2004. He is also chairman of NDC.
Luis played one of the young guys from Little Ze's gang;
and he has also just finished directing a short film
- 'Vinte de Agosto'. He is also NDC's project co-ordinator.
Diego played the role of a street boy in the film, and
has featured in 'City of Men'. |
From
25th February to 8th March 2005 the group will visit London,
Bury St Edmunds and Liverpool making a series of
presentations and workshops. The sessions will include information
about the making of 'City of God', the hit TV series 'City
of Men', and their own colourful life experiences in Rio's
favelas. This film presentation has been put together by ABC
Trust supporter and filmmaker Ravi Chopra.
As
part of this unique exchange - and on the request of
the ABC Trust - NDC have produced an exclusive short
film trailer 'People who are not news'.
This will show what it is like to live in the socially
marginalised favelas from the perspective of characters
including an ex-street boy turned poet, a 90-year old
Samba dancer and a host of unforgettable favela residents.
All sessions will include ample time for Q&A. Film
director Fernando Meirelles has been invited to attend
as well. It is hoped that the award-winning film 'Quase
Dois Irmaos' (Almost Two Brothers) can be screened
as well as part of some of the workshop sessions. Directed
by Lucia Murat it features many actors from Nos do Cinema. |
ABC
Trust Kids |
In
partnership with many other organisations, ABC Trust have
organised for the Nos do Cinema group to tour as follows:
Monday
28th February (afternoon) workshop at Queen Mary,
University of London. Contact:
Dr Else Vieira e.vieira@qmul.ac.uk
020 7882 3134
Tuesday
1st March (4 - 7 pm) workshop and party at Guanabara,
Drury Lane, London. This event will concentrate on favela
life, music and dance, and then enter Funk Carioca party mode!
Guanabara is the only late night Brazilian bar and live music
venue in London. Workshop chaired by Fernando Duarte, O Globo's
London correspondent. Contact Box Office: 020 7242 8600 Workshop
tickets £7.50 on the door.
To know more about GUANABARA
CLICK HERE
More info at: www.guanabara.co.uk
Nos
do Cinema will also be meeting with representatives from the
National Youth Theatre earlier in the day; and be available
for media interviews.
Wednesday
2nd March Everyman Cinema, Hampstead, London. This
session will also include the launch of a new book about 'City
of God' written by Dr Vieira and start with a special reception
at 6.30pm. The session will be of particular interest to film
aficionados. Contact
Box Office 087 0066 4777, www.everymancinema.com.
Tickets £20-£30
Thursday
3rd March ABC Trust offices, Bury St Edmunds
Contact:
Mark Ereira on 01284 747476 www.abctrust.org.uk
 |
Friday
4th March - Monday 7th March The group will
be hosted by PIDGIN & various organisations in Liverpool,
including young film makers from the Aim Higher Project,
University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Samba.
Charity gigs and events include restaurants Vivi and
Val Pariso, plus a Latin America Day. |
Saturday
05/03/05
8pm
-12pm
‘getting people together’
supporting the UK tour of Brazilian actors
C ity of God in the Pool of Life
an evening with www.urbeatz.com
downstairs@viva
lark lane |
|
For
further details contact:
Bea
Freeman on 0151 708 5708 info@pidgin.mersinet.co.uk
www.pidgin.org.uk
ABC
Trust supporter: Ian Fradgley 07743 87 07 04
With
sponsorship from VARIG Brazilian Airlines an ABC volunteer
has put together a 35 minute DVD about what difference the
financial support we make available makes to four project
partners helping impoverished young people at risk in north-east
Brazil. Please let us know if you would like a copy (£5
- suggested donation!). BBC Lifeline has also recently made
an appeal film featuring actor Jeremy Irons to help raise
funds for the Trust. This will be shown as part of the NDC
presentations.
Under
the guidance of Brazilian filmmaker Katia Lund and oscar-nominated
film director, Fernando Meirelles, Nos Do Cinema was originally
founded to train the award-winning cast for roles in the Brazilian
film 'City Of God'.
The
project now serves over 200 youngsters from Rio's poorest
favelas and has been structured into a programme that offers
a winning solution to the problems of youth in the favelas;
access to information, training in media skills, an introduction
to the formal job market and a powerful means of self-expression.
Nos do Cinema empowers these young people as they explore,
discover, rewrite and appropriate their own image and history.
The
group has received training from field professional
since the making of the film in 2001, and have also
worked as actors and technicians in other successful
productions, such as the hit series 'City Of Men'. Four
short films have also been produced recently. The project
also has an outreach programme to share their work and
create connections in a sharply divided society. |
The Nos Do Cinema team |
ABC
trust became involved in 2003 when £5,000 was donated
towards NDC salaries. They have little in terms of equipment,
especially computers, and ABC has agreed to help them purchase
computers with a further grant of £4,000 in early 2005.
"We
can do a lot here in Brazil with very little. A thousand pounds
goes a long way to help projects help very poor children.
The ABC Trust is making a big difference to projects in my
country."
Fernando
Meirelles
The
ABC Trust is dedicated to helping street children, and impoverished
children at high risk of living on the streets of Brazil's
cities. Driven to leave home by economic necessity, these
children live rough on the streets, easy prey for disease,
prostitution, violence, drug addiction and crime.
Since
2000, over £800,000 has been made available to develop
ABC Trust and provide funding to 14 PROJECT PARTNERS for street
children and those at risk.
ABC
Trust in supporting local project partners, lifts children
and young people out of despair, poverty and homelessness
- empowering them so that they can transform their lives.
Contact:
Admin
and Fundraising Office, 1st floor, 88-89 St John's Street,
Bury
St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SQ
T:
01284 747476 F: 01284 747478
Info@abctrust.org.uk
www.abctrust.org.uk
UK
Registered Charity number: 1069022
Trustees:
Jimena Page (Chair), Peter Hall, Katrina Dick, Graca Fish,
Elaine Waller Patrons: Jimmy Page, Pele, Brian May, Edu Gasper,
Fernando Meirelles, Bebel Gilberto, Carlos Miele, Julian Lloyd-Webber.
Pictures by: Marcus Almeida / Gaby Guyer;
SOMAFOTO
/ Ivaldo Cavalcante
www.nosdocinema.org.br
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