Rio Film Festival Crowns 'The Riverbank' and 'Elza' as Top Winners

Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias' 'The Riverbank,' a previous Locarno winner set in Recife, secured the Best Fiction Feature Film award at the Rio Film Festival. The ceremony took place at the historic Odeon cinema in Rio de Janeiro, marking a significant homecoming for the Brazilian production.

Eryk Rocha's 'Elza' was honored with the Best Documentary Feature Film prize, adding another accolade for the director. The festival also recognized 'On Behalf of My Son,' 'The French Teacher,' and 'London' with key competitive prizes across various categories.

The awards highlight the strength of contemporary Brazilian cinema alongside international selections, reinforcing Rio's position as a major festival destination for both fiction and nonfiction storytelling.

This brief draws on reporting from Variety.