GRAMADO, Brazil — Grace Passô’s directorial debut, “Our Secret” (“Nosso segredo”), took center stage at the 54th Gramado Film Festival, winning the prestigious Kikito award for Best Feature Film during the ceremony held on August 22. The film also garnered accolades for cinematography, awarded to Wilssa Esser, and art direction, credited to Lucas Osório.
Passô, a seasoned playwright and actress, not only directed but also wrote the film. “Our Secret” delves into the dynamics of a Black family striving to piece together their lives following a profound loss. As they navigate their grief, the youngest son harbors a secret that could bring their hidden pain to the surface.
For those eager to catch the film, Vitrine Filmes, the distributor behind Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent,” is set to release “Our Secret” in Brazilian theaters starting August 27.
Courtesy of Gramado Film Festival
In addition to Passô’s achievement, Allan Deberton’s “Gugu’s World” (“Feito Pipa”) captured the audience award while also winning Kikito accolades for Best Director, Best Actress (Teca Pereira), and Best Supporting Actor (Lázaro Ramos).
Meanwhile, Carlos Segundo’s “Milk Powder” walked away with the critics’ jury award for Best Brazilian Feature Film, as well as securing wins for Best Screenplay (shared with Rafael Copel) and Best Sound Design (Waldir Xavier).
In acting categories, José Loreto, from “Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem,” and Christian Malheiros, featured in “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino,” shared the honor for Best Actor. Naruna Costa earned Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Pele de Rinoceronte.” The jury also granted honorable mentions to 11-year-old Yuri Gomes from “Gugu’s World” and Onna Silva from “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino.”
The editing award went to André Finotti and José Eduardo Belmonte for “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino,” while Otávio de Moraes received the prize for Best Original Score for “Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem.”
In the documentary category, Susanna Lira’s “Gonzaguinha, da Maior Liberdade” secured the Kikito, with “Empeleitada” receiving an honorable mention.
The festival’s jury featured notable industry figures, including actress Cris Vianna, director and screenwriter Fábio Meira, actress Helena Ranaldi, film critic and curator Kênia Freitas, and actor Marcelo Serrado. In contrast, the critics’ jury included journalist and documentary filmmaker Flavia Guerra, journalist and professor Pâmela Eurídice, documentary filmmaker and critic Rafael Valles, journalist and director Simone Zuccolotto, and researcher and critic Victor Souza.
Gramado Fest winners:
Best Film: “Our Secret,” by Grace Passô
Best Documentary Feature: “Gonzaguinha, da Maior Liberdade,” by Susanna Lira
Documentary Honorable Mention: “Empeleitada”
Audience Award for Best Film: “Gugu’s World,” by Allan Deberton
Critics’ Jury Award for Best Film: “Milk Powder” (“Leite em Pó”) by Carlos Segundo
Best Director: Allan Deberton for “Gugu’s World”
Best Actress: Teca Pereira for “Gugu’s World”
Best Actor: José Loreto for “Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem” and Christian Malheiros for “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino”
Honorable Mention: Yuri Gomes for “Gugu’s World”
Honorable Mention: Onna Silva for “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino”
Best Screenplay: Carlos Segundo and Rafael Copel for “Milk Powder”
Best Cinematography: Wilssa Esser for “Our Secret”
Best Supporting Actor: Lázaro Ramos for “Gugu’s World”
Best Supporting Actress: Naruna Costa for “Pele de Rinoceronte”
Best Sound Design: Waldir Xavier for “Milk Powder”
Best Original Score: Otávio de Moraes for “Chorão: Só os Loucos Sabem”
Best Art Direction: Lucas Osório for “Our Secret”
Best Editing: André Finotti and José Eduardo Belmonte for “Justino: Nos Bastidores do Reino”
