2007
Founding of the company
Founded by film students who met at the Paraná School of Arts, aiming to create original content in shorts and features.
About
Telling stories that reach Brazil and the world
Films, Series and Film Festival
inspir(ação) · humaniz(ação) · provoc(ação)
Grafo Audiovisual is a film production company that believes in the transformative power of cinema.
Founded in 2007, our mission is to promote culture and impact society through stories that inspire, move and provoke reflection. We create and produce audiovisual content that seeks not only to entertain, but also to connect people and ideas.
With a track record marked by dedication to artistic quality and a commitment to cultural diversity, Grafo is recognized as one of Brazil’s leading film production companies.
Among our flagship projects is Olhar de Cinema, one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country and in Latin America, bringing together filmmakers, critics and audiences passionate about independent cinema since 2012.
In all, our productions have reached 5 continents through more than 400 festivals and 200 awards, with sales to more than 70 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.
200+
Awards
70+
Licensed countries
12+
Features produced
2
Series produced
Our journey
2008
With Your Own Hands
Our first short, shot on Mini-DV, traveled festivals in Brazil and abroad, winning more than 15 awards.
2010
A year with three shorts
We released “Dia 1 P.M.”, “Displaced Lives” and “Reminiscences” — the latter a finalist at the AXN Film Festival.
2011
The first feature and a major success
Premiere of “Circular”, winner of the Ministry of Culture’s low-budget grant, and the short “The Factory”, which screened at 200+ festivals, won 72 awards and reached the 2013 Oscar shortlist.
2012
Olhar de Cinema
The first edition of Olhar de Cinema — Curitiba International Film Festival takes place. In its very first year the event is a success, with packed screenings.
2013
The Prison Trilogy
The short “Quadrangle” (Cannes Critics’ Week) and the documentary “Custodians” (UN award at Dok Leipzig) complete the trilogy begun by “The Factory”.
2015
Venice and international sales
“Tarantula” premieres in Venice. “To My Beloved” wins 7 awards in Brasília and is sold to 6 countries, notably the Netherlands, Germany and China.
2017
The first series
“Us by Us”, with 5 episodes, airs on TV Brasil, TV Cultura and TV Futura, and gets a feature version for theatrical release.
2018
Sundance
“Rust”, by Aly Muritiba, is selected for Sundance and wins the Gramado Festival. We also premiere the short “Only Yesterday” at Clermont-Ferrand.
2019
Award at Dok Leipzig
“Arid Zone”, by Fernanda Pessoa, receives an Honorable Mention at Dok Leipzig; “Chacal” wins the Fantastic Women award at Cinefantasy.
2020
First international co-production
We release “Granma Nineteen and the Soviet’s Secret”, a co-production with Portugal and Mozambique, adapted from the book by Angolan author Ondjaki.
2021
Three features and the Oscar
“The Same Part of a Man”, “Jesus Kid” (3 awards in Gramado) and “Private Desert”, audience winner in Venice and Brazil’s Oscar submission.
2022
Consolidation in the international market
“Nothing Ever Happened”, a co-production with Portugal, screens at Punta del Este and the São Paulo Film Festival, consolidating our partnership with Fado Filmes.
2024
A series and two features
“It Was the Whispers That Killed Me” and “The Woman Who Cries” premiere at festivals, and the children’s series “Brazilian Literature Survival Manual” arrives on TV Brasil.
2025
Three awards at the Gramado Festival
“Knot”, by Laís Melo, wins three awards in Gramado: Critics’ Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography.
International reach
Film licensing across the five continents
5
Continents
70+
Licensed countries
Countries with Grafo licensing
Sales and licensing across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania — among other territories.
Team
Meet the team that makes our productions happen.
Antonio Gonçalves Junior
Executive Director / Creative Producer
Partner, creative producer, executive and line producer at Grafo. He is the artistic director of Olhar de Cinema and has worked in the film industry for over 20 years. He holds degrees in Public Relations (UEL) and Film & Video (FAP), with a specialization in Communication and Culture (UTFPR).
Milena Fransolino
Director of Creation & Experience
Director of creation, branding, institutional communication and experience at the Olhar de Cinema and MECI festivals. She holds degrees in Industrial Design (PUC-PR) and Visual Arts (UNESPAR), a master’s in Arts (UNESPAR) and an ongoing PhD in History at UFPR.
Fabiana Pimentel
Executive Producer
Working in the audiovisual field since 2015, in content production and the coordination of educational projects. She also holds a Law degree, with experience drafting projects for incentive laws and privately-backed cultural programs.
Gabriel Borges
Co-Artistic Director, Olhar de Cinema
Curator, editor and film director, with a master’s in Film from Unespar. He is co-artistic director of Olhar de Cinema, artistic director of Metrô – Brazilian University Film Festival and one of the curators of Cineclube São Bernardo.
Mariana Benevides
Production / Relations
Producer and communicator, with a master’s in Communication and Culture from the University of Porto, Portugal. She is responsible for designing and running communication and relationship efforts with creatives and audiences across all of Grafo’s audiovisual products and festivals.
Leonardo Vieira Mendonça
Production Assistant
A Film and Audiovisual student at the State University of Paraná and a certified Administration Technician from Senac São Paulo. He also works as a documentary director, actor and film critic.
Cenira Carvalho
Finance / Administration
Financial and administrative analyst, working in the field since 2014, with experience in HR as well. She holds a technical qualification from Anhembi Morumbi São Paulo. She is responsible for the finances of Grafo’s projects, as well as the company’s day-to-day administration.
Behind the scenes
