Cinefest Gato Preto
2015 to 2019
Film festival - short films
Lorena, SP
Brazil
The Cinefest Gato Preto is a short film festival based in Lorena, in the Vale do Paraíba region of São Paulo. The festival has been running since 2005, founded by Olga Arantes and Olga de Sá. Trapézio was invited to join the coordination and expansion process of the festival in its 11th edition, in 2015. The connection was so strong that the partnership lasted five years, until the 15th edition in 2019.
The festival gained national reach and strengthened the work that had previously been more regionally focused. Other branches of the project were also created, such as Gato Lab, a regional project development lab, and the Novena Cinematográfica, which brought cinema into people’s homes.
Expansion and relevance
Gato Preto gained recognition for bringing renowned professionals to its team, including Gilda Nomacci, Rosi Campos, and Toni Venturi. What truly distinguished the festival, however, was its innovative format—one that celebrated the technical crafts of cinema, creating dedicated sessions and discussions on sound design, editing, production design, and other behind-the-scenes roles. With a long-standing history and many lasting memories, it became one of the most important festivals in the interior of São Paulo.
Cinefest Gato Preto is one of the few screening platforms for films produced in the Vale do Paraíba region (we consider the 39 municipalities of the Cone Leste Paulista, or the Administrative Region of São José dos Campos). We’ve observed a growing number of local productions and an improvement in their quality, although still far below the national selection standards. To help raise the level of these productions, training and educational activities are essential.
We established a screenwriting workshop that takes place during the festival, in which the best script receives a small award as an incentive for production. We believe that screenwriting is a key area for improving local films, as it's often possible to find simple solutions that result in better outcomes on screen.
That’s how the idea for GatoLab was born — a short film project lab we aim to launch in 2018. The lab will be the first audiovisual industry event ever held in the Vale do Paraíba region, designed to train producers and screenwriters with strong and impactful projects. It will support the production of a short film, awarding the best project.
The festival includes a special section called “Films from the Vale” and hosts a gathering of local filmmakers. We also encourage exchanges with other local festivals, such as Corvo de Gesso, in Jacareí, and Formiga Independente, in São José dos Campos.
This region, once the birthplace of Mazzaropi, currently receives no institutional support for cinema. Cinefest Gato Preto has become a reference point for regional filmmakers, serving as a space for screenings, discussion, training, and access to some of the best films being made across Brazil.