Background

ABRAFIC (Brazilian Association of Film Commissions) was set up in 2006, during the 39th edition of the Brazilian Cinema Festival in Brasilia and is currently comprised of 19 FCs throughout Brazil. Soon after ABRAFIC was established, it drafted the Declaration of Brasília, which it addressed to the federal government. The document suggests that an inter-ministerial group be created to promote Brazil as both a destination and a service provider for international film productions. Since then, several national institutions have begun collaborating with the Alliance.

In 2008, ABRAFIC felt the need to transcend the constraints imposed by an associative set up and changed its name to Brazilian Film Commissions Alliance. The idea of an alliance bolsters the original goal of ABRAFIC, which is to join institutions with individual strategies that are willing to work together in long-term partnerships to develop and support innovative national audiovisual projects, brainstorm innovative lines of action and promote a positive image of Brazil in the international audiovisual scenario.

ABRAFIC has teamed up the federal government, the Ministry of Tourism and Apex, who all consider the audiovisual sector an emerging field with great potential. The Film Commission’s work generates benefits for the population as a whole by means of the incentives it gives to cultural production, the jobs and income it generates, while, at the same time, presenting Brazil under a positive light and doing away with the common stereotypes foreigners often associate with Brazil.