Brazilian cinema: “Buddies and the heir” premieres internationally at Russian film festival

Feature film is the sequel to the acclaimed “Buddies,” a milestone in the history of inclusive cinema worldwide.

Written and directed by Marcelo Galvão, “Buddies and the Heir” (“Colegas e o Herdeiro” – “Colegas 2″) has been selected as the closing film of one of Russia’s most prestigious film festivals: the Zerkalo International Film Festival, held in honor of Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. The screening will take place on July 1, 2025, in the city of Ivanovo.

This heartwarming and humorous comedy continues the moving journey that won over audiences worldwide in the original 2012 film “Buddies”, which starred three actors with Down syndrome.

Shot in southern Brazil and Uruguay, “Buddies and the Heir” is a road movie that follows a group of friends who hide inside a cargo plane, setting off on a dangerous, adventure-filled trip to Punta del Este.

“In this sequel, the film becomes even more inclusive, featuring over 70 actors with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities such as Williams syndrome,” says Marcelo Galvão. “But Buddies and the Heir isn’t about disability. Within five minutes, the audience forgets all about that and gets fully immersed in the story, rooting for the characters. That’s true inclusion.”

Produced by Gatacine in co-production with Globo Filmes, the feature also tackles ableism by casting people with disabilities in a wide range of roles — breaking stereotypes and encouraging reflection.

“Buddies and the Heir will also serve as a posthumous tribute to my great friend and executive producer Marçal Souza, who passed away before filming began — after making sure everything was ready for production,” Galvão notes. Visually impaired and with a long track record in Brazilian cinema, Marçal Souza was himself a powerful example of inclusion within the film industry.

Cast

The film reunites the award-winning original cast — Ariel Goldenberg, Rita Pokk, and Breno Viola — and introduces João Vitor de Paiva as Duda, in his film debut. A university student and the first young UNICEF advisor with a disability in Brazil, João Vitor is a prominent voice in the fight against ableism and for disability rights.

“We need to fight for the rights of people with disabilities and prove that we’re capable of doing anything — including making movies. Never give up on your dreams”, says João Vitor. “Being part of this film was an incredible experience. I loved learning how movies are made and seeing the teamwork behind it all.”

The cast also includes Luiza Acosta, Rafaela Ehmke, Gabriel Lazzari, Henrique Fernandes, Giulia Merigo, Samanta Quadrado, Fafy Siqueira, Deto Montenegro, Marcelo Naz, Marcos Contreras, Cristiano Lourenço, among others.

It’s worth remembering that “Buddies” was already a success in Russia back in 2013, when it won Best Feature Film at the International Disability Film Festival Breaking Down Barriers in Moscow. The film went on to become the most awarded Brazilian comedy in history.

Finally, I’d like to highlight that, in addition to having created the BRICS Brasil website, I’ve been involved in the production of Buddies since 2008, when the first rehearsal for the original feature film took place — the moment I became an advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities. I work as Associate Producer and Communications Director for Buddies and the Heir, which is currently being submitted to film festivals in Brazil and abroad. The commercial release is expected to take place in the coming months.

With the “Buddies” in Porto Alegre, during the film’s production: Ariel Goldenberg, Breno Viola, Samanta Quadrado, Giulia Merigo, Aleksandra Zakartchouk and Rita Pokk