The creation of Lumen – Rio de Janeiro’s Independent Film Festival – emerged from distinct paths: the first being a long journey of work in festivals by its founders. It was years spent programming and curating important festivals in the Brazilian scene. In this work, Gabriel Papaléo, Pedro Tavares, and Waleska Antunes, who also worked together in film production, noticed how independent films go through complex paths to reach the Brazilian audience. From screenings in programs on the fringes of major international festivals to precarious distribution that often results in direct releases on online platforms, these films face a narrowing of options for new screenings around the world, including, of course, in Brazil.

The second path that made Lumen a reality ironically comes from the opposite extreme; while working together, Gabriel, Pedro, and Waleska, directors with distinct curatorial and cinematic proposals, faced resistance in building a panorama of independent/marginal/inventive/handcrafted/experimental cinema. Lumen was born with the aim of expanding the reach of films and filmmakers, introducing Rio de Janeiro’s audience to directors from around the world who are on the margins of major film events, yet showcase relevant, innovative, and, of course, captivating works that still lack a definitive platform in the city. From young filmmakers who leverage technology for accessibility to create narratives made with friends or by themselves, to already established directors working in the shadow of a screening circuit that increasingly prioritizes what happens outside theaters, rather than the direct exchange between films and viewers. Joining them are producers from major events and global companies like Indie Lisboa, TV Globo, Cine Brasília, among others, contributing to the creation of a unique festival.

With free entry, Lumen arrives with the intention of democratizing access to these films and approaches. Contemporary cinema is rich, prolific, and, of course, high-quality. Making Rio de Janeiro a hub for these filmmakers is a bet on the city as a major cultural exponent for this cinematic field, based on the belief that a production made in Brazil, regardless of its budget or target audience, can reach the screens and have the infrastructure to be seen and debated. From the central region of Rio to the northern zone of the city, Lumen will occupy four venues and promote meetings, debates, lectures, and, of course, many film screenings during the seven days of the event. Brasília will host a traveling version of the event, confirming the relevance of global independent cinema in Lumen’s first expansion. We hope this will be the first of many!