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SAMUEL AND THE LIGHT

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Young Samuel lives in Ponta Negra, Brazil, whose inhabitants have been living without electricity. When the project “Light for All” arrives, everything changes. Filmed over six years, Samuel and the Light shows how the introduction of electricity disrupts the community’s traditional way of life, and its relationship with the natural world.

THE FILMMAKER

Vinícius Girnys’ short films have been presented at various international festivals. "Samuel and the Light" is his first feature film, completed in March 2023. It premiered in April at Visions du Réel (Nyon, Switzerland), in May at Hot Docs (Toronto, Canada) and in June at FICG (Guadalajara, Mexico), in the official competition sections. At the FICG, "Samuel and the Light" received the FEISAL Award for Best Film and the Award for Best Ibero-American Feature Documentary, which qualified the film for the Academy Awards. At São Paulo International Film Festival, "Samuel and the Light" was awarded the Bandeira Paulista Trophy with the Jury Award for the Best Documentary.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

Best Film Award – Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), Mexico
Best Documentary Jury Award - São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil
Cascudo Trophy Special Award – Mostra de Cinema de Gostoso, Brazil
Jury’s Special Mention –Chiloé International Film Festival (FICH), Chile
Jury's Special Mention – Movies That Matter, Netherlands
Decent Labor Award – Cartagena International Film Festival (FICCI), Colombia
Visions Du Réel, Switzerland
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Canada
Ambulante Film Festival, Mexico
Grand Bivouac Festival, France
Porto/Post/Doc: Film & Media Festival, Portugal
30__70 Doc Fest, Italy
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa, India
Siberiadoc, Russia
Docpoint, Helsinki Documentary Film Festival, Finland
Dublin International Film Festival, Ireland
Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival (DOK), Serbia
Cinélatino – Rencontres de Toulouse, France
Filmfest Bremen, Germany
Kinolatino Festival, Belgium
Southern Cone International Film Festival (FICCSUR), Chile
Ficmec – Environmental Film Festival of the Canary Islands, Spain
Al Este International Film Festival, Peru
Finca – International Environmental Film Festival, Argentina
Faito Doc Festival, Italy
Ecofalante Environmental Film Festival, Brazil
Paraty International Film Festival, Brazil
Douarnenez Film Festival, France
Beyond Borders International Documentary Festival, Greece
Novíssimo Cinema Brasileiro (CINUSP), Brazil
Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (AFFR), Netherlands
Vrai Vrai Paris Festival, France
Ojoloco Film Festival, France
Vrai de Vrai Festival (Rennes), France

SAMUEL AND THE LIGHT

Catalog # EPF16090 ● ISBN: 978-1-963201-30-7 ● UPC: 6-82086-16090-0 ● NTSC

70 Minutes ● Copyright 2023 ● Portuguese, English Subtitles

For purchase orders, to book screenings and for other inquiries, please contact:
Larry Rattner - larry@epfmedia.com

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