The upcoming Brazilian star Carlos Segundo, who was nominated for an Oscar for his short film “Sideral,” has signed up with the Berlin-based production company Black Forest Films to direct his next feature film, “Milk Powder.”
Milk Powder has been chosen to take part in the Script Station Lab that will take place at the Berlin Film Festival. Black Forest, which is owned and operated by Christoph and Josune Hahnheiser, is now a co-producer with Segundo’s O Sopro do tempo and Les Valseurs from France. According to Les Valseurs producer Justin Pechberty, “Milk Powder” will be the company’s second collaboration with Black Forest after the feature documentary “Los nombres propios,” which will be directed by Fernando Dominguez and will begin production in approximately one month. The Hubert Bals Fund has agreed to provide financial assistance for the project’s development as well.
According to the synopsis, Segundo’s film “Milk Powder” “deploys a cinema of wandering, mixed with rock songs and weird comedy.” The story follows Vicente, an aspiring rock musician, as he searches for love and, more importantly, for a purpose in his life. His own personal struggle is emblematic of a generation of Brazilians who are grappling with their own existential crisis, which has been made worse by the rise to power of far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro in 2018.
O Sopro do tempo and Les Valseurs have worked together on four other projects in the past, including Segundo’s feature film “Fendas” (“Slits”) and more recent shorts, and his most recent short, “Sideral,” which is among the 15 films that are being considered for the award for Best Live Action Short at the 2023 Academy Awards, as well as more contemporary short films such as “From Time to Time, I Burn” and “Big Bang,” the latter of which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival the previous year.
The film “Sideral” had its world premieres at Cannes and Telluride, and it has since gone on to win up to 65 accolades at festivals all around the world, including Chicago, Palm Springs, Hollyshorts, and Los Angeles Shorts. This film is the only South American short that was considered for an Oscar nomination this year. “Sideral,” which means “outer space” in English, is a short film by this director that, like his earlier works, contains an absurdist narrative. The plot centers on a couple, the female protagonist works as a maid, while the male protagonist works as a mechanic. Their lives are turned upside down when Brazil launches its first human rocket ship into space.
“The success of ‘Sideral’ is so important for Brazilian cinema,” according to Karim Anouz, whose film “Invisible Life,” which won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes in 2019, will represent Brazil at the Oscars in 2020. “The triumph of ‘Sideral’ comes at a moment when our nation is only recovering from four years of physical and symbolic violence committed by extreme right-wing extremists, notably against culture,” Karim Anouz said.
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“And to watch a young film director like Carlos who never quit creating pictures, with or without profit, presenting stories that encourage us to dream, it gives us all the energy to continue making films,” Carlos said in an interview with Variety to continue re-imagining the world.” He continues by stating that “His picture is outstanding in every aspect, unusual in its form, and directed by a magnificent and creative story, with a conclusion that you won’t forget.”
The introduction of the nominees for the 95th Academy Awards will take place on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, while the ceremony itself will take place on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
