São Paulo’s Luiz Toledo Launches Filomena Productions to Accelerate Growth in the Global South Film-TV Industry (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Luiz Toledo, the formerly highly active director of investments and strategic partnerships at Spcine, the São Paulo Film Commission, has launched Filomena Productions, a private sector consultancy which aims to help supply missing links between burgeoning audiovisual hubs in Brazil, Latin America and the global South and established international markets.

A mover and shaker on the São Paulo film-TV scene, Toledo was one of the architects of a pioneering Sao Paulo cash rebate for foreign and international Brazilian shoots – launched by São Paulo City Hall in 2019 and also embraced by São Paulo state from 2023 in a newly fortified edition.

Distinguished by requesting affirmative action policies in funding bids, along with a strong first wave of global streamer investment from 2016’s “3%,” through this November’s mega production “Senna,” the rebate has positioned Sao Paulo as not only the dominant but also most international-orientated of Brazil’s film-TV hubs.

Under his leadership, Spcine International Department attracted $366 million in business for its audiovisual sector, Toledo estimates.