The Buzz Bin: Films from Brazil

A rundown of the country's highest-profiles pics

By VARIETY STAFF

Waddington

A rundown of some of the highest-profile -- and most globally commercial -- 2010 pics from Brazil. List includes title, production companies, pic description, status and distributor if available.

LOPE (Antena 3/El Toro/Ikiru/Conspiracao/ Warner Bros. South/Moonshot)
A $13 million romantic drama about 16th-century Spanish playwright Lope de Vega as a man and dramatist. Andrucha Waddington ("House of Sand") directs. One of Brazil's highest-budgeted productions of 2009. Post.

SUNSTROKE (Nos Outros/Dezenove)
Following Venice premiere, pic was included in Dezenove's deal with France's UMedia for international sales rights. First pic from legit director Felipe Hirsch, co-directing with Walter Salles' partner Daniela Thomas. Europa.

DIRTY HEARTS (Mixer/Columbia/Globo Filmes)
Pic turns on premise that in 1945, part of the large Japanese community in Brazil didn't accept Japan's defeat in WWII. Vicente Amorim ("Good") directs. Sony.

31 MINUTES -- THE MOVIE (Aplaplac/Total/Usert 38)
Chile/Brazil animated feature based on the successful Chilean TV series. Released in Chile. Riofilme to distribute in Brazil.

BESOURO (Mixer/Disney/Globo Filmes)
Debut pic of Joao Daniel Tikhomiroff, owner of local leading production company Mixer, is the true story of Besouro, the famous Capoeira master of the 1920s. Disney releases Oct. 30.

5 VEZES FAVELA -- AGORA POR NOS MESMOS (Luz Magica)
Helmer Carlos Diegues trained young favela residents to direct, with this collective pic the result. Sony/Riofilme to release in January.

RIO SEX COMEDY (Cinema Dependant/Tambellini)
Jonathan Nossiter helms this France-Brazil co-production comedy with Charlotte Rampling and Matt Dillon. Post.

LULA, SON OF BRAZIL (LC Barreto/Filmes do Equador)
Fabio Barreto's biopic of Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Could turn in big B.O. in 2010. Downtown/Europa opens pic Jan. 1.

A MORTE E A MORTE DE QUINCAS BERRO D'AGUA (Videofilmes)
Sergio Machado's latest, based on Jorge Amado's novel, following his critically acclaimed "Lower City." Disney releases pic March 12.

THE SUPREME HAPPINESS (Ramalho/Paramount)
Cinematic comeback of helmer Arnaldo Jabor, based on his teen years. Paramount.

SUNLIT BERLIN (Coracao da Selva)
A Brazilian goes after his brother in Berlin in this drama from arthouse helmer Karim Ainouz. In development.

ELITE SQUAD 2 (Zazen)
Jose Padilha's sequel to his 2008 Berlin Golden Bear winner, which was also a hit in Brazil. Set for release in the second half of 2010.