Kleber Mendonça Filho Reflects on Success and Future Projects

Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho expressed a desire to continue his partnership with the American distributor Neon following the success of his film "The Secret Agent." During a discussion at the Projeto Paradiso National Talent Network Meeting in Recife, Mendonça Filho praised Neon for their support throughout the film's promotional journey, which included extensive travel and engagement with audiences and critics. He noted that working with a significant player like Neon has been transformative for his career, stating, “It made a big difference working with a big player like Neon.”

Variety Magazine

Mendonça Filho described the promotional experience for "The Secret Agent" as intense and enriching, allowing him to explore various facets of cinema, including commercial and prestige aspects. He emphasized the importance of personal connections in the film industry, highlighting that his collaboration with Neon was not a choice he made but rather a selection made by the distributor. He remarked, “If people are interested in your work and you have Neon as an option, it is not even a choice.”

Variety Magazine

Looking ahead, Mendonça Filho is contemplating his next film, which he indicated might be set in Recife during the 1930s. He acknowledged receiving numerous requests for international projects but remains uncertain about their realization. His producing partner, Emilie Lesclaux, also shared insights into her work, noting the challenges of managing multiple projects while supporting Mendonça Filho's creative vision.

Variety Magazine

Lesclaux discussed the evolution of their collaborative efforts, tracing back to their work on "Aquarius," which opened doors for international co-productions. She highlighted the financial necessity that drove their projects to seek broader budgets, stating, “Our projects became bigger, and we needed to round up the budget.” The collaboration for "The Secret Agent" involved four countries: Brazil, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, which Lesclaux described as a positive and enriching experience despite the bureaucratic challenges often associated with international filmmaking.

Variety Magazine

While Mendonça Filho and Lesclaux have enjoyed significant success, the complexities of international co-productions can lead to challenges, including bureaucratic delays and financial hurdles. Lesclaux acknowledged these difficulties, stating that the process can be “very complicated” and “slow,” which may deter some filmmakers from pursuing such collaborations.

Variety Magazine

• “It is not every year that I get the chance to wander within this cinema space like that and get an idea of commercial cinema, prestige cinema, screening rooms, festivals, critics, audiences… It was a great experience, and Neon did brilliant work. I hope my next film also goes to Neon. No one knows what will happen, but it made a big difference working with a big player like Neon.” — Kleber Mendonça Filho, Filmmaker

Variety Magazine

• “I did not choose Neon; they chose me. We have worked with smaller distributors before and had great experiences, but if people are interested in your work and you have Neon as an option, it is not even a choice.” — Kleber Mendonça Filho, Filmmaker

Variety Magazine

• “It can also be a very complicated process in certain cases,” — Emilie Lesclaux, Producer

Variety Magazine

This synthesis captures the essence of Kleber Mendonça Filho's reflections on his recent successes and future aspirations, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and the complexities of international filmmaking.

Variety Magazine