Olga Rabinovich's Projeto Paradiso Transforms Brazilian Cinema

Brazilian philanthropist Olga Rabinovich, through the Olga Rabinovich Institute and its Projeto Paradiso initiative, is single-handedly reshaping the country's film industry by providing agile, small-scale grants and internationalization support. Launched in 2019 after a year of research, Projeto Paradiso offers bursaries, training, and resources to Brazilian screen professionals, focusing on connecting talent with global opportunities. The initiative has backed festival hits like Allan Deberton's Berlinale-winning "Gugu's World" and Grace Passô's "Our Secret," and supports a network of 264 professionals, including Anita Rocha da Silveira, Juliana Rojas, and Dira Paes. Rabinovich, the sole funder, operates without bureaucratic hurdles, enabling rapid decision-making—grants can be approved within a week. The institute emerged partly in response to funding cuts under President Bolsonaro, which slashed support for Brazil's film agency Ancine. Projeto Paradiso prioritizes multiple small grants over large ones, with "final cash" grants of around $3,000 often making the difference for filmmakers. The initiative held its third talent network national meeting in Recife, where Rabinovich and associate Roberta de Oliveira e Corvo discussed its origins and future. Rabinovich aims for the project to operate in perpetuity, ensuring long-term impact on Brazilian cinema.