Gramado Film Festival to Honor Actors Maria Fernanda Cândido and Selton Mello

The 54th Gramado Film Festival will honor acclaimed actors Maria Fernanda Cândido and Selton Mello with the prestigious Kikito de Cristal award. This marks the first time in the festival's history, which began in 1973, that two artists will receive this special distinction in the same year. The award recognizes individuals with outstanding careers in Brazilian and international audiovisual productions. The announcement was made during a press conference in São Paulo on Wednesday, August 16th. The festival itself will take place from August 12th to August 22nd, with its official opening ceremony scheduled for August 14th.

Maria Fernanda Cândido, originally from Paraná, boasts over 30 years in the industry. Her filmography includes "Dom," for which she won a Kikito for Best Actress in 2003, "A Paixão Segundo G.H.," "Sal de Prata," and "O Agente Secreto." She has also appeared in international productions like "Il Traditore" and "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore." Selton Mello, with a career spanning more than four decades, is an actor, director, producer, and voice actor. He is celebrated for iconic roles such as Chicó in "O Auto da Compadecida" and recently portrayed Rubens Paiva in "Ainda Estou Aqui." His extensive film credits include "Lisbela e o Prisioneiro," "A Mulher Invisível," "Meu Nome Não é Johnny," and "Lavoura Arcaica."

Both actors have been associated with Brazilian films that gained international recognition, including Oscar season contenders. Cândido was part of "O Agente Secreto," while Mello starred in "Ainda Estou Aqui." Cândido expressed her gratitude, noting that the Gramado festival holds personal significance as it was where she received her first Kikito for the film "Dom." In addition to the honorees, the festival will feature 21 competitive entries in documentary features, Gaúcho features, and short films, all vying for the traditional Kikito trophies. The closing night will include a special hors-concours screening of "La Perra," a Chilean co-production directed by Dominga Sotomayor, which also features Selton Mello in its cast and as an executive producer.