Brazil Supersizes Film, TV Funding, Unveils New Sao Paulo Rebate (EXCLUSIVE)
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Brazil is back. Brazilian President’s Lula Inácio Lula da Silva’s new government, which took office on Jan. 1, looks set to invest just under $1 billion in 2023 into the country’s audiovisual sector. It’s one of the biggest upticks in government film and TV aid in history, and comes after Lula predecessor Jair Bolsonoro slowed state aid to a glacial pace. The new financial injection should turn Brazil into the film and TV powerhouse of Latin America. Brazilian audiovisual secretary Joelma Gonzaga told Variety that regulation of global streaming services operating in Brazil, which foreseeably will introduce quotas for Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and other players, is also on Lula’s government agenda.