The Brazilian Market
BRAZIL: FAST FACTS
Population | 211 million* |
GDP | USD 1,84 trillion* |
Currency | Real (R$, BRL) |
Language | Portuguese |
Capital | Brasília |
Time zone (Brasília) | GMT-3 (BST) |
Homes with TV | 97,2% |
Internet access | 74% of the population, 71% of Brazilian homes* |
*Data from 2019

Filming in Brazil
In order to film in Brazil, with exception to foreign productions of journalism, every production company must hire or be an associate of a Brazilian production company, which will make the prior communication to the Brazilian Film Agency (ANCINE).
The notification can only be made by a Brazilian production company registered with the agency, as it will be responsible for providing all the permits and documents required for filming. The Brazilian production company not only acts as a representative of the foreign production company towards ANCINE, but also must ensure compliance with the legislation and processes related to customs clearance of equipment, providing support to the foreign company.
For more information on international co-production, please check the website of ANCINE.
Co-Production Agreements
An audiovisual production under an international co-production regime is that which is produced by two or more economic agents based in different countries, who carry out production activities, sharing the responsibilities for the economic organization of the work. The incentive to carry out co-productions is in line with ANCINE’s legal competence, in terms of articulating with bodies and entities aimed at promoting the production, programming and distribution of cinematographic and video-phonographic works of the Mercosul member states and other members of the international community. International co-production makes it possible to expand markets, financing sources and the access to talents from other countries.
International co-productions may be made between countries with which Brazil has signed a film co-production agreement, and also with those without existing co-production agreements. Agreements may be multilateral (signed by blocs of countries) or bilateral, and seek to create more favorable conditions for collaboration between signatories.
Types of international co-production
There are two possibilities for Brazilian companies to do official international co-production projects, using the Brazilian incentive laws:
Without using an international co-production agreement
- Ownership: at least 40% of the property rights comprising commercial exploitation must be owned by the Brazilian producer;
- Artistic: at least 2/3 of the cast and main crew must be Brazilian or Brazilian permanent residents living in Brazil for the past 3 years or longer.
Through an existing international co-production agreement between Brazil and other countries*
- The Brazilian co-producer may own from 20% to 80% of the property rights over the work;
- The rules on hiring technical artists vary per the provisions of each agreement;
- Resources regarding the Brazilian percentage do not necessarily have to be spent in Brazil – however, when such resources are sent to other countries, a tax must be paid.
*Countries with which Brazil has audiovisual co-production agreements signed:
Bilateral Agreements:
- Canada
- Chile
- Germany
- India
- United Kingdom
Multilateral Agreement:
Latin American Cinematographic Co-Production Agreement
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- Dominican Republic
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Peru
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
For more information on international co-production, please check the website of ANCINE.
BRAZILIAN AUDIOVISUAL INDUSTRY INSTITUTIONS
- ANCINE – National Cinema Agency
- CTAv – Centro Técnico Audiovisual da SAV/MinC
- Spcine
- São Paulo Film Commission
- RioFilme
- Rio Film Commission
- Rede Brasileira de Film Commissions (REBRAFIC)
- Secretaria Especial da Cultura – Ministério do Turismo
Education and Research
- ICAB – Instituto de Conteúdos Audiovisuais Brasileiros
- FORCINE – Fórum Brasileiro de Ensino de Cinema e Audiovisual
- Projeto Paradiso
- Instituto Olga Rabinovich
- Instituto Criar de Tv, Cinema e Novas Mídias
- BrLab
Unions and Associations
- Brasil Audiovisual Independente
- Cinema do Brasil
- SOCINE – Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos de Cinema
- ABRA (Associação Brasileira de Autores Roteiristas)
- Abraccine – Associação Brasileira de Críticos de Cinema
- ABC – Associação Brasileira de Cinematografia
- ABCA – Associação Brasileira de Cinema de Animação
- ABD Nacional – Associação Brasileira de Documentaristas
- Associação Brasileira de Preservação Audiovisual
- ABRACI – Associação Brasileira de Cineastas
- AC – Associação Autores de Cinema
- APAN – ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PROFISSIONAIS DO AUDIOVISUAL NEGRO
- Associação Antipirataria Cinema e Música (APCM)
- APRO – Associação Brasileira da Produção de Obras Audiovisuais
- ARTV – Associação de Roteiristas de Cinema, Televisão e outras mídias
- CPCB – Centro de Pesquisadores do Cinema Brasileiro
- SICAV (Sindicato da Indústria Audiovisual)
- SIAESP (Sindicato da Indústria do Audiovisual do Estado de São Paulo)
- SINDICINE – Sindicato dos Trabalhadores na Indústria Cinematográfica e do Audiovisual
- Mulheres do Audiovisual Brasil
Are you part of a Brazilian institution and want to include it on the list? Then please contact us at international@braziliancontent.com