Renowned philanthropist Olga Rabinovich will be honored with the very first Prémio Encontros (Encounters Award) at this year’s edition of the Encontro de Ideias Audiovisuais, which serves as the premier industry platform for the São Paulo International Film Festival. The prestigious accolade has been established to recognize her enduring dedication and transformative commitment to advancing the Brazilian cinema sector. Through her visionary work with Projeto Paradiso, Rabinovich has continuously elevated the international profile of Brazilian films and championed local cinematic talent on the global stage.
The Encounters Award was specifically created to spotlight the vital, transformative role that private investment plays in enriching culture and supporting the arts. By bridging the gap between private funders and the creative professionals behind innovative audiovisual productions, the platform aims to foster a sustainable ecosystem for storytelling. The inaugural honor will be officially bestowed upon Rabinovich during the event’s opening gala ceremony on October 14. Her appearance will also precede a high-profile in-conversation event featuring Neon president Jeff Deutchman, drawing significant attention from international and domestic industry leaders alike.
A Journey from Healthcare Philanthropy to Cinematic Vision
Born and raised in São Paulo, Rabinovich’s path to cultural philanthropy was shaped by years of compassionate public service. Long before entering the film industry, she spent significant time volunteering in local hospitals, working closely and empathetically with terminally ill patients. That profound exposure to human stories, vulnerability, and the shared human experience ultimately laid the groundwork for her philanthropic philosophy.
In 2018, she established the Olga Rabinovich Institute, quickly launching Projeto Paradiso shortly thereafter. The cultural initiative was born out of her steadfast belief that stories possess the extraordinary power to change the world. Rather than simply funding passive entertainment, her vision centered on investing directly in the people who create these stories and harbor the ambition to share them with audiences worldwide.
Reflecting on the inception of the honor, Renata de Almeida, director of the São Paulo International Film Festival, noted that Rabinovich is the natural choice for the maiden award. "Olga Rabinovich is the first recipient of the newly created Prémio Encontros, because she was the inspiration behind the award," de Almeida shared. "I first heard Olga’s name in early 2018, when Josephine Bourgois came to see me about someone from the private sector who wanted to create an institute dedicated to cinema. The Olga Rabinovich Institute was announced during the 42nd Mostra, bringing a breath of hope at a time that promised to be particularly difficult for Brazilian film and culture."
De Almeida also emphasized the lasting impact of their collaboration over the past several years. "Eight years later, Projeto Paradiso, an initiative of the Olga Rabinovich Institute, has already made a major contribution to discovering and championing a new generation of talent, strengthening Brazil’s audiovisual sector as a whole," she continued. "Projeto Paradiso has an outstanding professional team, as its results clearly demonstrate. But the image that stays with me is of a meeting with Olga, climbing the winding stairs of our little building for a somewhat chaotic coffee in the festival’s office. Because, in the end, almost everything really does begin with an encounter."
Cultivating Magic Through Community and Talent Support
Earlier this year, ahead of the third Projeto Paradiso National Network Meeting held in Brazil’s bustling production hub of Recife, Rabinovich spoke with industry media about her deep-seated passion for the medium. Explaining her attraction to the art form, she shared that she "loved the idea of supporting cinema because I feel it is a magical art form."
"You enter a screening room without knowing whether you’ll be elated or disturbed or moved," Rabinovich explained. "It’s a transformative experience. I think it’s incredible to have a communal artistic experience that moves you like this."
To foster that transformative potential, Projeto Paradiso provides comprehensive, multi-layered support systems designed to maximize the presence of Brazilian screen professionals on the international stage. The initiative backs the development of compelling narratives through fellowships, specialized residencies, professional workshops, and targeted training programs. Over the years, the Paradiso Talent Network has expanded significantly, currently comprising nearly 280 Brazilian film professionals whose voices are increasingly resonating globally.
Furthermore, the organization acts as a crucial bridge connecting domestic talent and projects with the wider international film market. This is achieved through an expansive network of more than 250 esteemed partner institutions located both within Brazil and across international territories. Key collaborators include renowned organizations such as the Hubert Bals Fund, La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français, TorinoFilmLab, Film Independent, and the Sundance Institute, all of which help pave the way for Brazilian artists to secure foreign funding, mentorship, and co-production opportunities.
Fueling Global Recognition for Modern Brazilian Cinema
The tangible results of Projeto Paradiso’s extensive backing are readily visible on the international festival circuit. The initiative has recently provided vital support behind several heavily discussed and critically acclaimed festival titles. Among these are Allan Deberton’s Berlinale-winning feature "Gugu’s World" and Grace Passô’s poignant work "Our Secret."
The impressive roster of the Paradiso talent network features 264 professionals, including celebrated filmmakers and actors such as Anita Rocha da Silveira, known for "Medusa"; Juliana Rojas, recognized for "Good Manners"; and Dira Paes, acclaimed for her performance in "Manas."
In a strategic expansion of its mission, Projeto Paradiso teamed up with the Embratur Brazilian Tourism Board in 2025 to launch Screen Brasil. This collaborative initiative offers support to four Brazilian films each year through two distinct funding calls—the most recent of which concluded on October 2. The program is designed to bolster international distribution campaigns for qualifying features, with formal submissions handled directly by the international sales agencies holding the commercial rights to the films.
Announced initially at the Cannes Marché du Film in May, the slate of films backed by the initiative so far includes prominent projects such as Gabriel Mascaro’s "The Blue Trail," Rafaela Camelo’s "The Nature of Invisible Things," and the anticipated animated feature "Papaya."
A Deeply Rooted Partnership with the Festival
The relationship between Projeto Paradiso and the São Paulo International Film Festival runs deep, tracing back to the very origins of the philanthropic initiative during the festival’s 42nd edition in 2018. Since that initial milestone, the organization has steadily expanded its footprint and institutional presence at the annual event, becoming an indispensable pillar of the festival’s industry programming.
Demonstrating this ongoing commitment, Projeto Paradiso has presented the annual Paradiso Distribution Support Award since 2023, offering a substantial distribution grant dedicated to securing the theatrical release of a standout fiction feature film. Building further upon these industry-strengthening initiatives, the organization served as a primary driving force in 2024 for a landmark partnership with the Hubert Bals Fund. That collaboration directly led to the creation of HBF+Brazil, following foundational discussions that originally took place at the Encontro de Ideias platform.
As the São Paulo International Film Festival prepares to celebrate its milestone 50th edition, running from October 15 to October 29, the celebration of Olga Rabinovich’s contributions highlights the essential synergy between private philanthropic vision and cultural longevity in modern Brazilian cinema.
