Inside the Mind of Favela Funk

Gal Costa: Recanto – Ao Vivo

March 2013 •Portuguese

Favela on Blast

January 2008 •English

For 20 years, a subculture has emerged in Brazil under society's radar. It is the culture surrounding 'funk carioca', a musical rhythm which mixes the American electronic funk of the 1980s with the most diverse influences of Brazilian music. 'Baile funk' is one of the most interesting musical movements in the world, but it comes from what is at times one of the most violent and poorest places in the world: the slums of Rio de Janeiro (favelas). This music is the personalization of the raw element. Bombastic rhythms coming from the American Miami Bass and samples are fused with powerful rap vocals using Brazilian slang. This documentary tells stories of sex, love, poverty, and pride among Rio's marginalized people. They have their own language, style, and heroes. It's a film that's fast, heavy, and violent like the city itself.

Abraçar e Agradecer

December 2016 •Portuguese

Celebrating 50 years of her career, Maria Bethânia filmed in Brazil in 2105 the show Abraçar e Agradecer, which now comes out on CD and DVD.

The Good Fight

October 2017 •Portuguese

A boxer in Rio's favelas opens a club to help keep kids out of the burgeoning drug trade.

Aqui Favela, o Rap Representa

March 2003 •Portuguese

Júpiter Maçã - Behind The Fame!

January 2018 •Portuguese

A documentary showing who Flávio Basso really was behind his famous persona, Júpiter Maçã.

Sexo é Bom

January 1987 •Portuguese

Samuel Mariano - Antes, Durante e Depois do Culto

May 2017 •Portuguese

New work by singer Samuel Mariano, recorded live at the PE 60 Convention Center - Cabo de Santo Agostinho - PE.

Betty: They Say I’m Different

November 2017 •English

An aspiring songwriter from a small steel town, Betty Mabry Davis arrived on the scene to break boundaries for women with her daring personality, iconic fashion style and outrageous funk. She befriended Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, wrote songs for the Chambers Brothers and The Commodores and married Miles Davis, turning him from jazz to funk and then went on to ignite stages in the 70s with her sassy sexed up mix of hard rock and bluesy funk, inspiring artists from Prince to Erykah Badu to Karen 0 and Peaches. Then she vanished…

Quando a parede cai

January 2009 •Portuguese

Zé Barriga

January 2007 •Portuguese

James Brown: Soul Survivor

October 2003 •English

James Brown's legacy has influenced rap, soul, funk and R&B. But along with his huge talent, there's a dark side to Brown's success that includes stints in prison and unceasing tabloid speculation. This in-depth documentary takes a look at the meteoric highs and deep lows of Brown's career, offering some fascinating insights from the Godfather of Soul himself, as well as interview footage with Chuck D, Little Richard, Wyclef Jean and many others.

Comitiva Esperança

January 1985 •Portuguese

Flux014: os rolês da quebrada

September 2019 •Portuguese

A city that has been living for two years with the law that prohibits "clandestine parties". A youth who, when reunited, risks receiving a police raid on their doorstep, in the street, in the park or in the square. Spatial segregation, denial of the right to the city and public space for the leisure of the poor, black and peripheral. Willingness to make art, create music, lyrics, poetry, beats, hits and spread culture in this repressive scenario.

James Brown Soul Brother No. 1

January 1978 •English

The James Brown Story

Favela Government

Invalid date •English

Brazil's "Red Command" drug cartel is considered a plague by the government. But for the people of the favelas they control, Red Command *is* the government. They’re the de facto leadership of the area. The gang has taken over the role of the authorities in their shanty towns, where the state has long abandoned them. Away Days got special access to the Rio favelas, hanging out out with young foot-soldiers, speaking to commanders, and seeing how civilians live between the gangs and the equally violent police militias.

Saravah

January 1969 •Portuguese

Documentary about Brazilian music circa 1969, with extremely rare scenes, such as the only color footage of Pixinguinha, images of João da Baiana, one of the fathers of Samba, Maria Bethânia rehearsing at Barroco nightclub, Baden Powell playing his acoustic guitar, Paulinho da Viola showing his masterpiece "Coisas do Mundo, Minha Nega", that he had just finished, and Márcia, a singer from São Paulo.

Thunder Soul

March 2010 •English

Jamie Foxx presents the inspiring true story of high school band leader Conrad O. Johnson, who transformed his ragtag jazz band students into a legendary funk powerhouse that took the nation by storm.

La Casa del Ritmo: A Film About Los Amigos Invisibles

April 2012 •Spanish

A compelling story about Grammy-winning Venezuelan funksters Los Amigos Invisibles, from their early days playing in Caracas, Venezuela, to being discovered by David Byrne of Talking Heads and their rise to international stardom. The viewer experiences their story as it intertwines with a live performance filmed at the Highline Ballroom in New York City in March 2011. The band, with the same original 6 members, celebrates 20 years in 2011.

72 Horas

April 2024 •Portuguese