Free Film Criticism Course Offered in Rio to Accompany Festival

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the 17th edition of Festival do Rio, Rio de Janerio’s international film festival beginning on October 1st and continuing through October 14th, Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro will offer a timely free film criticism from October 6th through 9th with film screenings proceeding the classes.

Organized and taught by O Globo newspaper film critic Mario Abbade, the course will include the screening of six films on September 29th through October 4th (R$4 for each screening) followed by four free classes (in Portuguese) about those films on Tuesday, October 6th through Friday, October 9th. Each day of the classes will begin at 6:45 PM and last for a maximum of two hours.

“The course aims to help with the training and improvement of film critics,” Abbade explained in a prepared statement. “The essence of the program to strengthen and highlight the relationship between film analysis and critical review. This includes activities like comparing models and addressing the theoretical instrumentation and techniques necessary to evaluate works of art, as well as aspects of the profession, such as working methods, terminology, editorial guidelines and practical guidance. ”

While attendance to the film screenings preceding the classes is not mandatory for the course, it is recommended. The films screened will be Kleber Mendonça’s 2008 documentary “Crítico” on September 9th at 7PM; Richard C. Safarian’s 1971 road movie and cult classic “Vanishing Point” on September 30th at 7PM; Nicolas Winding Refn’s critically-acclaimed 2011 stylized genre feature “Drive” on October 1st at 7PM; John Ford’s 1946 Western “My Darling Clementine” on October 2nd at 7PM; David O. Russell’s 2013 multiple Academy Award-nominated film “American Hustle” on October 3rd at 6PM; and David Lynch’s 1997 film “Lost Highway” on October 4th at 6PM.

Registration for the course is free be must be made in advance by contacting [email protected]. Applicants must provide their full names, Registro Geral (ID card) number and phone number in the body of the email. There are only eighty vacancies for the course and the openings will be filled in the order that the emails are received. Confirmation emails will be sent to those who qualify for registration and at the end of the course, a certificate of attendance will be sent.

What: Curso de Crítica Cinematográfica (Film Criticism Course)
When: Classes on Tuesday October 6th through Friday October 9th at 6:45 PM each day. Film screenings on September 29th through October 4th at 7PM September 29th and 30th, October 1st and 2nd and 6PM on October 3rd and 4th.
Where: Caixa Cultural, Av. Alm. Barroso, 25 – Centro
Entrance: R$4 for each film screening.