Following a successful international festival run, including a notable appearance at the Berlinale, Brazilian director Laís Santos Araújo is moving forward with an ambitious expansion of her short film Infantaria into a feature-length production. The project, which explores the complexities of life in Alagoas, is currently navigating the final stages of development with the support of producer Pedro Krull of Aguda Cinema.
As Laís Santos Araújo expands the Berlinale short ‘Infantaria’ into a feature, the production team is leveraging the prestigious Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence to refine the script. The transition from a short-form narrative to a feature-length work represents a significant milestone for the director, who intends to widen the scope of her storytelling while maintaining the intimate, observational style that defined the original work.
Expanding the Narrative Ecosystem
The original short film centered on the perspective of young Joana, but the feature-length adaptation will shift its focus to encompass a broader family dynamic. At the heart of the story is Ludmilla, a seamstress who operates an underground abortion service from her home—a reality that serves as both a backdrop and a catalyst for the family’s internal tension. Alongside Ludmilla, the film will delve deeper into the character of Eduardo, whom Araújo describes as a figure who is “lonely and confused and who I want to be better understood.”
Araújo has clarified that the expansion was not a pre-meditated goal during the creation of the short. “It wasn’t something that was planned, we never made the short with the intention of making it a feature or as a ‘proof of concept,’” she noted. The decision to return to this world was driven by a desire to explore the family dynamics that were only briefly glimpsed in the initial project. By setting the story in a Brazil where abortion remains criminalized, the film navigates the intersection of clandestine economies and domestic silence, though the director remains firm that the political context is absorbed through the characters’ experiences rather than explicitly declared.
Visual Anchors and Stylistic Evolution
The geography of Alagoas, the director’s home state, remains a vital component of the film’s visual identity. Araújo seeks to capture the specific tension between the region’s natural beauty and the underlying sadness of the characters’ circumstances. “I am very inspired by the contrast of beauty and sadness and I feel like growing up in Alagoas was central to that,” she said. The feature is expected to depart from the static, highly composed frames of the short, opting instead for a more fluid, kinetic visual language that reflects the “movement and life” the director aims to instill in this larger work.
This stylistic shift is intended to ground the film’s national portraiture in a more visceral, immediate experience. By focusing on the family’s attempt to navigate a reality that they are often unable or unwilling to fully discuss, the film aims to reflect a broader societal taboo in Brazil. “I believe the film condenses in the family what around goes on in Brazil: something that is widespread but is dealt with as a taboo, having harsh consequences on women and society as a whole,” Araújo explained.
Development Trajectory and Financial Roadmap
The project’s path to production has been supported by a series of international and national initiatives. Infantaria has secured a CNC writing grant and has been selected for several prominent industry programs, including La Fabrique Cinéma, BrLab, CineMundi and MAFF. The team also benefited from the year-long Paradiso Incubator, which provided script consultancy and strategic development support.
The production currently holds a budget of €880,000 ($1.0 million), with €590,000 ($684,400) already secured. The team is currently utilizing their time in Cannes to engage with potential European partners, sales agents, and distributors. For producer Pedro Krull, the project is a testament to the growing influence of the Brazilian Northeast in the global film industry.
| Development Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| CNC Writing Grant | Secured |
| Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence | Ongoing |
| Total Budget Target | €880,000 |
| Funds Currently Secured | €590,000 |
Krull emphasized that Aguda Cinema is committed to fostering young talent from Alagoas, noting that the company’s philosophy is deeply rooted in this regional surge. However, he remains pragmatic about the structural challenges facing filmmakers in the region. “Brazil has a lot of disparities between many things, and that includes the regions. In our state, we are only now beginning to do feature films,” Krull said. He pointed to recent federal policies that aim to distribute film funding more equitably across the country as a critical, albeit fragile, opportunity for regional creators.
As the project enters its final development stage, the focus remains on refining the screenplay and establishing the necessary partnerships for a sustainable production. The team has expressed a desire to avoid rushing the creative process, prioritizing long-term artistic and financial viability over immediate timelines. The next major checkpoint for the project will involve finalizing co-production agreements and solidifying the remaining budget, which will allow the production to move toward principal photography in Alagoas.
Readers are invited to share their thoughts on the evolution of regional Brazilian cinema in the comments section below.
