Reel Brazil Film Festival makes its third and final stop at Reading Cinemas, Queenstown Mall, from tomorrow, until Wednesday, September 29, after successful seasons in Auckland and Wellington.
Six award-winning feature films and three documentaries make up the festival.
Festival director Leandro Cavalcanti said highlights included Jean Charles (2009), which struck chords with Brazilians and their own experiences of moving to a foreign country.
Beyond Ipanema: Brazilian Waves in Global Music (2009) celebrates the country's rich musical culture, while The Xavante Strategy (2007) focuses on eight indigenous boys who were chosen by their tribe to preserve their territory and traditions in the modern world.
"People I talk to, especially Brazilians, all knew about [the festival] and they've got this sense of pride about it. They want to tell their Kiwi friends about it and show it off."
About 70 members of the Wakatipu business community, plus representatives of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Film Otago Southland and sponsors were expected at the festival's opening cocktail partytomorrow.
Mr Cavalcanti said the networking event, between 6pm and 7pm, would be complete with Brazilian delicacies and refreshments and live bossa nova, performed by a Brazilian duo living in Queenstown.
The screening of the Brazilian romantic comedy Now Boarding (2009) would follow, he said.
"The gala opening shows a more elegant side of Brazil. It's important to me to show a Brazil that people would like to go to as tourists, and want to do business with.
"Now Boarding has run in festivals all over the world. It's got one of Brazil's top actresses [Marilia Pera] and she's considered a goddess.
"It's very light, fun Latin film and a good representation of Latin American passion, music and dreams."
Entry to the gala opening is $20 at the cinema box office, or festival website.
Reel Brazil will host a traditionally extravagant Brazilian party for the community at the Brazilian-owned Melt Bar on Saturday.
DJ Bobby Brazuka and a carnival atmosphere were among the attractions from 10pm. Entry is $5.
Mr Cavalcanti, born in Minas Gerais, said he worked in trade and cultural promotions at the Brazilian Embassy, in Wellington, between 2002 and 2006 and one of the tasks was organising a Latin film festival.
