Brazilian philanthropist Olga Rabinovich is funding the country's emerging filmmakers through her Projeto Paradiso initiative. The organization held its third talent network national meeting in Recife, highlighting support for 264 professionals. Rabinovich discussed the institute's origins and impact during an interview.
Olga Rabinovich launched the Olga Rabinovich Institute in 2018 after researching needs in Brazil, followed by Projeto Paradiso in 2019. The program provides bursaries, training, and internationalization support to connect Brazilian talent with global opportunities. It has backed projects like Allan Deberton’s Berlinale-winning “Gugu’s World” and Grace Passô’s “Our Secret,” with a network including Anita Rocha da Silveira, Juliana Rojas, and Dira Paes among its 264 members, Rabinovich told Variety at the event in Recife’s Cais do Sertão. The initiative gained momentum during the Bolsonaro era, when public funding for agencies like Ancine dropped. Rabinovich stepped in to cover filmmakers' travel costs to international festivals, enabling quick action without bureaucratic delays. “I have been so immensely privileged in my life... I wanted to give back somehow,” Rabinovich said. Associate Roberta de Oliveira e Corvo noted the focus on script development through an incubator, offering small grants like $3,000 'final cash' to complete projects. Producers at the meeting praised the efficiency, with funds arriving in under a week. Rabinovich emphasized long-term sustainability, aiming for the program to continue in perpetuity. “It is such an immense honor... I’m just grateful we can make it happen,” she said, expressing emotion amid grateful attendees.
