Bolsonaro Appoints Pastor and Christian Festival Producer to ANCINE Directorate

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro has appointed Edilásio Santana Barra Júnior, aka Pastor Tutuca, and Veronica Brendler, director of the International Christian Film Festival, to become directors of ANCINE (National Film Agency).

The nominations were published in the Federal Gazette (DOU) on Friday, February 21st. The names must be approved by the Senate.

Edilásio Barra, host, actor, journalist and also bishop, took over the ANCINE’s Superintendency of Economic Development last year, in charge of managing the Audiovisual Sector Fund (FSA).

The Sectorial Fund is the main instrument for the direct promotion of the film and audiovisual industry in the country. Tutuca had already been appointed to a position in the Ministry of Citizenship in the first half of 2019.

At that time, Osmar Terra wished to place him on the directorate of the Audiovisual Secretariat, linked to the Special Secretariat of Culture, but there was resistance even among Bolsonarists.

Osmar Terra then backed down, but he eventually appointed Tutuca as director of the Audiovisual Policy Department in July.

Tutuca had his career marked by work in television, first as an actor, then as a host. He headed the VIP Program, on RedeTV!, whose focus was on society column topics. He also worked at CNT, interviewing artists, socialites and businessmen – and for these works he was already called “Amaury Jr. carioca”.

He graduated as a journalist in 1984 and holds a post-graduate degree from the Candido Mendes University, in Rio de Janeiro. He also worked as the director of the Rio de Prêmios program, broadcast by Record, and of the sports program Copa Super 7, also at RedeTV!.

In 2011, he was one of the founders of the Continental Church of the Love of Jesus, which is based in Rio de Janeiro, of which he is a pastor. He also ran for city councilor for the PSD in the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2012.

Veronica Brendler introduces herself on social media as a cultural producer, filmmaker, press officer and director of the International Christian Film Festival.

In her résumé, she claims that she has “over 80 projects approved under the Rouanet Law”, an initiative to promote culture that has always been the target of criticism by Bolsonaro.

She also mentions the development of cultural, environmental, sports and film projects. She says she is a lecturer on the Rouanet Law and project development, scriptwriter, production director of the film “O Reencontro do Amor”, in addition to having organized the 1st Christian Film Festival, 30 meetings of Christian filmmakers and directing the Christian Film School.

Source: Folhapress