São Paulo's Film Cash Rebate Delivers Early Wins, Sets Stage for 2025 Edition
The series follows Ícaro (Humberto Morais), a debt-ridden doctor and Dr. Mancini (Cláudia Abreu), a top surgeon battling trauma-induced tremors, as they lead a double life performing illegal procedures.
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Other partially funded projects include a Portuguese-language remake of Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis starrer 'Friends with Benefits' (Biônica Filmes, HBO Max), the telenovela 'Scars of Beauty' (Coração da Selva, HBO Max), and 'Maníaco do Parque' (Santa Rita Filmes, Prime Video), a dramatization of Brazil's most infamous serial killer.
Launched in 2021, the initiative stood alone in Brazil as the country's first and at the time, only, production incentive.
Ary Scapin, Director of economic development and strategic partnerships of Spcine, says 'the cash rebate program marked a groundbreaking step in Brazil's audiovisual industry. Its initial success not only validated the initiative but also inspired similar programs across the country.'
The second edition, rebranded in 2022 as the Program for Attracting Film Productions to the City and State of São Paulo, substantially expanded funding to R$40 million ($7.03 million) through a partnership between São Paulo's City Hall and State Government. Module 1, targeting international co-productions or service-based productions, has taken applications since May 25, 2023, with R$25.5 million ($4.5 million) available.
Eligible productions can receive between 20% and 30% reimbursement on qualified spend. Projects enhancing sustainability, diversity, and regional filming practices can get higher rebates.
The program requires minimum eligible expenditures of R$10 million ($1.8 million) for live-action and R$7 million ($1.2 million) for animation. It also mandates that at least 20% of expenditures occur outside São Paulo's capital, buttressing regional development.
Negotiations are ongoing to renew the successful city-state partnership, with a goal of 'expanding its impact and attracting even more large-scale national and international projects.' Scapin says.
Spcine CEO Lyara Oliveira is not anticipating major structural changes to Spcine given their understanding of the sector but notes 'Our challenge is to keep up with this momentum, to grow alongside the sector, and to expand and diversify our actions as the industry itself transforms.'
While the rebate alone may not be sufficient to spark a nationwide boom, signs point to growing government support, including talk of a R$800 million ($140.6 million) incentive from Brazil's Ministry of Culture.
Scapin believes the production sector is still in a recovery phase. 'International productions often have financing cycles that take up to two years and many of the projects previously scouted are still securing funding,' Scapin says. 'Our policies are constantly evolving.'
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Business Insider
39 minutes ago
- Business Insider
I tried 8 of Ina Garten's most popular desserts, and the best one was the easiest to make
In eighth place is Ina Garten's tiramisu. Garten's tiramisu is featured in her cookbook "Family Style" and in an early episode of her show, "Barefoot Contessa." The Food Network star said she wanted to whip up the classic dessert for her husband, Jeffrey. "Tiramisu was to the 1990s what Pasta Pesto was to the '80s — it was done, done, and overdone," Garten wrote in her cookbook. "Now that it's not so pervasive, I dragged out my old recipe and rediscovered a dessert that's delicious, can be made in advance, and requires no cooking!" Garten's tiramisu features Italian ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and dark rum. Garten's tiramisu has a nice flavor but is a bit forgettable. Garten's tiramisu is very quick and easy to put together, which is always a huge plus. But I couldn't find the Savoiardi ladyfingers she recommends at my grocery store, and the American ladyfingers I used were far too fluffy to work well with her recipe. I thought the filling tasted lovely, especially with the punch of dark rum. But I still prefer my dad's delicious no-bake chocolate cake, which has a similar flavor but a far better texture thanks to the use of Nilla wafers. Taking the seventh spot is Garten's apple spice cake. This apple spice cake was among the many recipes that Garten developed while working at her Barefoot Contessa store. "We used to have all kinds of cakes like this out on the bakery counter, and you could come buy a whole cake, but you could also buy a piece," Garten said in an early episode of her "Barefoot Contessa" show. "It's not fancy," she added. "Just really delicious and earthy, and you always want to come back for more." Garten's apple spice cake features Granny Smith apples, rum, raisins, and pecans. To make Garten's apple spice cake, you'll need: 1 ½ pounds of Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and ¼-inch diced 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup of chopped pecans 1 cup of golden raisins 1 cup of granulated sugar 1 cup of dark-brown sugar, lightly packed ½ cup of dark rum (Garten recommends Mount Gay) ¾ cup of vegetable oil 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (2 oranges) 2 teaspoons of baking powder ½ teaspoon of kosher salt 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon of ground ginger ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves Vanilla ice cream for serving Caramel sauce for serving Garten's apple spice cake is a lovely fall dessert. Garten's apple spice cake is full of delicious fall flavors. The rum-soaked raisins reminded me of caramel, infusing some sweetness with the tart Granny Smith apples. Each bite was filled with the delicious nuttiness of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and I loved the surprising zing of the orange zest. The cake wasn't too sweet, so I even enjoyed a few slices at breakfast during the week. But I recommend following Garten's instructions and pairing it with ice cream and caramel for the "perfect dessert." In sixth place is Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting. Garten's cake features Kahlúa, instant espresso powder, and bittersweet chocolate. Garten's chocolate cake was deliciously moist, but it couldn't compete with some of her other desserts. Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting has a fantastic texture that reminded me of her Beatty's Chocolate Cake (more on that soon). The cake is springy and light, and the chocolate flavor is well-balanced thanks to the addition of Kahlúa and espresso. But the mocha frosting didn't stand out to me compared with the buttercream in Beatty's Chocolate Cake. Although it was easier to make than the latter dessert and tasted delicious, I didn't find myself craving seconds or thirds as I have with other Barefoot Contessa desserts. Taking the fifth spot is Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake. Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake appears in her most recent cookbook, "Go-To Dinners," where she writes that everyone who makes this recipe "can't believe how easy it is!" She also shared the cake on Instagram to celebrate Mother's Day in May 2023. "For Mother's Day, let mom sleep in while you bake her my Blueberry Ricotta Breakfast Cake," she wrote in the caption. "It's so easy to make — and who wouldn't love cake for breakfast?!!!" Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake features ricotta, lemon, and sour cream. To make Garten's breakfast cake, which serves eight, you'll need: 2 cups (12 ounces) of fresh blueberries 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup of whole-milk ricotta 1 cup of granulated sugar 10 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 tablespoons of sour cream 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of grated lemon zest Sifted powdered sugar, for dusting Garten's breakfast cake is a delicious dream that I'd happily eat after any meal. The sweet blueberries and zingy lemon keep the flavor interesting, and the cake was also extremely easy to whip up in the morning. I made the cake for my mom just before Mother's Day, and she was also a fan. "This was superb," she declared after trying her first few bites. "I give it a 10/10." Garten's recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, and I've loved making it for everyone. In fourth place is the recipe for Garten's famous "outrageous" brownies. Garten's outrageous brownies were a huge hit at her Barefoot Contessa store, which she ran for 18 years after leaving a job at the White House. Garten's brownies are also featured in her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." In the recipe description, Garten says her brownies were so popular at Barefoot Contessa that she sold "like a thousand a week." There's a ton of chocolate in Garten's outrageous brownies. To make a serving of 20 (large) brownies, you'll need: 1 pound of unsalted butter 1 pound plus 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips 6 ounces of bitter chocolate 6 extra-large eggs 3 cups of chopped walnuts 2 ¼ cups of sugar 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons of instant-coffee granules 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of salt Garten's outrageous brownies are outrageously good. Garten's outrageous brownies taste incredible, so I'm not surprised that they used to fly off the shelves of her store. The brownies are decadent and delicious, and don't take much time or effort. I love how the walnuts provide some contrast to the rich chocolate — each bite is moist and gooey, with just a bit of satisfying crunch. Whenever you need a great dessert to bring to a party or gift a relative or friend, Garten's outrageous brownies are a surefire hit. Rounding out the top three are Garten's chocolate chunk blondies. Garten's chocolate chunk blondies, inspired by chocolate chunk cookies, appear in her 2012 cookbook "Foolproof." "Who doesn't love chocolate chunk cookies?" she writes in the recipe description. "This is the same thing — made into bars." Garten also notes that chocolate chunks have a "more intense chocolate flavor than chips," and that this recipe delivers "moist, delicious blondies, every time!" Garten's chocolate chunk blondies mainly feature pantry staples, so they're cheap to make. To make Garten's blondies at home, you'll need: 1 ¼ pounds of semisweet chocolate chunks 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature ½ pound (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups of all-purpose flour 1 ½ cups of chopped walnuts 1 cup of light-brown sugar, lightly packed ½ cup of granulated sugar 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of kosher salt I should note that I opted to skip the walnuts for this recipe and accidentally bought chocolate chips instead of chocolate chunks. The blondies still came out fantastic, so feel free to use either based on your preference or what's already in your kitchen! Garten's blondies were a huge hit with everyone who tried them. Garten's blondies are so moist and luscious that there's sure to be some chocolate dripping down your fingers. But the mess is worth it for the delicious treat, which had a crispy crust that gave way to a middle so fluffy it reminded me of an extra-soft cookie. "Three words: chunky, decadent, delicious," my friend Kayla said when I asked for a review. I also loved that this dessert was as quick as it was cheap. There's no better pick than this when you're looking for a way to impress people without breaking the grocery-store budget. Taking the second spot is Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake. Garten actually got the recipe for Beatty's Chocolate Cake from her friend Michael Grimm, who frequently appears on "Barefoot Contessa." The cake was named after Grimm's grandmother Beatty, who would bake it for her husband and the customers on his milk deliveries, said Grimm's friend Monte Mathews, who shared the famous cake's origin story on his blog Chewing The Fat. Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake blew me away. When I first tested and reviewed Beatty's Chocolate Cake, I wrote that it's "packed with chocolate and still light as air — a true feat." It's deliciously rich yet fluffy and moist, and the buttercream is truly the perfect icing on top with its hint of sweetness. Beatty's Chocolate Cake still tastes great days later, making it perfect for leftovers. While it's not the quickest or easiest cake to make, the work is extremely worth it. This is a cake you make for someone you really love. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake here. Our winner is Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake. Garten previously told Epicurious that the mocha chocolate icebox, one of her go-to recipes, was inspired by a "fabulous caterer" friend. "I thought it was such a good concept that I was going to do it with something more interesting," she said. "So I took Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, and I added Kahlúa and cocoa powder. I made it into mocha whipped cream and then layered those and put it in the refrigerator, and, oh my God, it makes grown men weep." The cake features Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, Italian mascarpone cheese, and Kahlúa liqueur. To whip up the cake at home, you'll need: 3 (8-ounce) packages of Tate's Bake Shop chocolate-chip cookies 12 ounces of Italian mascarpone cheese 2 cups of cold heavy cream ¼ cup of Kahlúa liqueur ½ cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract Semisweet chocolate (for the garnish) If you can't find Tate's Bake Shop at your local supermarket, Garten recommends using another thin, crisp chocolate-chip cookie for the recipe instead. Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake is one of my favorite desserts, period. Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake was the first dessert I had made from scratch in a long time, and it was beyond simple and fun to whip up. The cake looks extremely impressive, thanks to its 10 layers, which you can easily see in each slice — and tastes even better. The Tate's cookies give the cake a rich and buttery flavor that will satisfy every sweet tooth, and I loved how the mocha whipped cream paired with the crunch of the chocolate-chip cookies. This is also one of those cakes that gets better each day it sits in the fridge, which was a delightful treat to look forward to as my family and I finished it all week. It might not make a grown man cry, but anyone who tries this cake will be thinking about it for a long time. I know I still am, and I can't wait to make it again and again. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's mocha icebox cake here.
Time Magazine
an hour ago
- Time Magazine
Daniel Dae Kim Breaks Down the Ambiguous Ending of Spy Thriller Butterfly
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Butterfly. Butterfly, a tense spy thriller dropping all six episodes on Prime Video on Aug. 13, follows David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), a mysterious and unpredictable former U.S. intelligence operative living in South Korea. Over the course of the show, the story gradually reveals the dangerous consequences of a past decision that now puts David's life at risk. The series blends intense espionage, complex family dynamics, and moral ambiguity, revealing how loyalty and betrayal intersect in the high-stakes world of global intelligence. Throughout Butterfly, viewers are drawn into a tense chase as David is pursued by Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), a cold young agent who also happens to be his daughter. Rebecca works for the secretive and sinister spy organization known as Caddis, which has its own dark agenda. The narrative explores the devastating impact of family secrets and fractured loyalties, while building toward a gripping conclusion that ties together the personal and political threads—yet leaves room for lingering questions. David Jung's past and the long tail of betrayal Central to Butterfly is David's history working alongside Juno (Piper Perabo), a high-ranking operative within Caddis. David and Juno were once close colleagues within the agency. However, tensions arose when Juno betrayed David by leaking classified information to a terrorist network led by Hugo Maldonado. This betrayal directly led to a fatal ambush in the Philippines where David's entire U.S. intelligence team was wiped out, except for him. Among the information leaked were personal details about David's daughter Rebecca, then a teenager, including photographs, birth records, and daily routines, putting her in immediate danger. To protect Rebecca, David faked his own death, cutting all ties and disappearing from her life. This decision resulted in nearly a decade of estrangement and set the stage for the complicated reunion that drives the series' plot. 'It's really the trigger event to the series itself. It's the event that changes David's life and also changes Rebecca's life irrevocably. David at that moment thinks he's making the right decision for his family, but as is so often the case when you're a parent, the decision you think is right for your child is often the one that is exactly wrong. So it sets up the entire relationship conflict for season one,' executive producer and star Daniel Dae Kim tells TIME. The dangerous reunion between father and daughter The series begins with Rebecca, now a skilled assassin working for Caddis, sent to take out David, whom she has learned is actually alive. She believes her father abandoned her and is conflicted about her mission. When they reunite, their fraught relationship is laid bare: Rebecca's anger and resentment clash with David's desire to protect and reconnect with her. Their encounter triggers a chase across South Korea as they flee relentless Caddis operatives. David reveals plans to escape to Vietnam, chosen for its lack of extradition agreements, where he hopes to create a safe space for Rebecca and his new family, which includes his wife Eunju (Kim Tae-hee) and their young daughter Minhee. 'The most important thing about the storytelling was getting the relationships right. If we understand the dynamics of Rebecca and David's relationship, the action flows as an extension of the relationship dynamics. There are some action shows where they just go from fight to fight to fight, and you can see that the connective tissue between them isn't very strong. But for us, the emphasis was on making sure the relationships were complex and interesting, and that the fights were an expression of their own emotional conflict,' says Kim. The growing threat and complex family dynamics As David, Rebecca, Eunju, and Minhee settle in Busan while plotting the next phase of their escape, the blended family unit struggles to achieve equilibrium. Rebecca struggles to accept Eunju and Minhee, feeling displaced by the new family dynamic. Eunju urges unity, stressing that they must face threats as one family. Meanwhile, Caddis, led by Juno and supported by her son Oliver (Louis Landau), intensifies efforts to capture David and Rebecca. Oliver, torn between loyalty to his mother and his own survival, plays a pivotal role in the ongoing power struggle within Caddis. The conflict escalates into a series of violent encounters and strategic moves, with David and Rebecca adopting increasingly desperate tactics to evade capture. Turning Oliver against Juno In a decisive shift, David and Rebecca capture Oliver and begin a psychological operations campaign designed to destabilize Juno's control over Caddis. Their objective is to sow distrust between Juno and Oliver, undermining the agency from within. They plant surveillance devices, stage false communications, and manipulate events to make Oliver suspicious of his mother's intentions. This internal disruption weakens Juno's grip on power and exposes fractures in her leadership. This phase of the series illustrates the intricate psychological tactics used in espionage, where family bonds and loyalty become tools for manipulation and control. The final confrontation and ambiguous ending Rebecca is eventually captured and taken to an abandoned factory by Juno and Caddis operatives. David initiates a high-stakes rescue, which includes a high-speed chase and a brutal fight with Gun (Kim Ji-hoon), Juno's lethal assassin. Despite sustaining serious injuries, David manages to rescue Rebecca. During the confrontation, Rebecca stops David from killing Juno, insisting they spare her life but demanding that she never threaten their family again. Following this, Juno and her ally Hollis (Sean Dulake) escape South Korea by private jet. Oliver calls Juno, who denies any attempt on his life, blaming David and apologizing for her failings as a mother, indicating ongoing fractures within the family and organization. The series closes with David, Rebecca, Eunju, and Minhee trying to rebuild their lives and planning to move to the United States. However, tension returns in the final scene when Eunju is discovered to be gravely injured and bleeding at a restaurant where they were having dinner, while Rebecca is nowhere to be found. David desperately asks Eunju if Rebecca was the one who harmed her, but she is too weak to respond. Calling out for Rebecca, David is left with uncertainty, underscoring that the family's danger is far from over. Will Butterfly return for a second season? The series finale leaves several crucial questions unanswered, including the fragile and complicated relationship between David and Rebecca, the true extent of the secretive Caddis organization, and most importantly, the unresolved mystery of who harmed Eunju. The ambiguous and tense ending clearly signals that the story was crafted with a continuation in mind. Adding to this anticipation, Kim himself has expressed hope for a renewal. 'We hope that there's a second season. We wanted to end on an event that called into question all of the bonds that had been built over season one. David is trying to bring his family back together and we want to see him succeed in that attempt. And the end of Season 1 shows us that it's not as easy as he thinks it's going to be.'
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I track the Prime Video top 10 every day — here's the 3 movies to watch right now (and 1 to skip)
The Prime Video top 10 is a great starting point when you're looking for something new to watch on the Amazon-owned streaming service. It gives you a snapshot view of the flicks currently being watched (and hopefully enjoyed) by millions of fellow subscribers. However, just because a movie manages to claim a spot in the Prime Video top 10 doesn't guarantee its quality. As somebody who tracks the Prime Video charts every single day, I've seen plenty of subpar movies score a spot on the list. So, to save you the pain of wasting your precious movie-watching time on a dud, I'm picking out the current gems down below. I've also identified the one movie that I really believe you should skip at all costs in the current Prime Video top 10 (apologies in advance to Arnold Schwarzenegger). So, let's dive in. Here's the current best and worst of the Prime Video top 10 movies (as of Wednesday, August 13). The latest chapter in the 'Planet of the Apes' series leaps ahead into the far future following the prequel trilogy and sees Earth now fully inhabited by intelligent primates. The last remaining humans are scattered to the wind, and the battle for the planet has been lost. But that doesn't mean this sci-fi action movie lacks humanity or heart, quite the opposite. It's a surprisingly human tale that follows a young ape named Noa on a journey of redemption and a quest to find a new home. Pitched as the start of a new trilogy, 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' sees Noa (Owen Teague) set out on a dangerous mission to rescue what remains of his tribe after they are taken prisoner by a vicious chimpanzee known as Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). Along the way, he also befriends a young human girl (Freya Allan), who is looking for the key to humanity's survival. This blockbuster boasts eye-popping effects and a thoughtful story. Stream "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" on Prime Video now It certainly speaks to the suspect quality of the current Prime Video top 10 as a whole that I'm including 'Uncharted' in my trio of recommendations. To be up front, I have a lot of problems with this action-adventure flick. As a huge fan of the Uncharted video games, it's a poor adaptation of the series, with some disastrous casting decisions (Mark Wahlberg as Victor Sullivan is borderline insulting), but viewers not so precious about the source material and just seeking a global trotting romp in the vein of Indiana Jones may enjoy this one. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Tom Holland plays Nathan Drake, a young treasure hunter, recruited by Victor 'Sully' Sullivan to find the lost fortune of Ferdinand Magellan, a 15th-century explorer. Drake is also motivated by a desire to find out what happened to his missing brother Sam (Rudy Pankow). Along the way, Drake and Sully must square off against Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), a ruthless rival treasure hunter who is obsessed with finding Magellan's treasure as he believes it's his birthright. Watch "Uncharted" on Prime Video now 'Wicked' is easily my most rewatched movie of 2024, because the musical extravaganza is such a joy from start to finish. And the grand finale with Cynthia Erivo belting out 'Defying Gravity' gives me chills every single time. Considering how long a 'Wicked' movie was in development, it's pretty shocking that the final result is so remarkable. Perhaps that's down to the note-perfect casting with Erivo playing Elphaba and Ariana Grande playing Glinda. With 'Wicked: For Good,' which will adapt the second half of the enduringly popular Broadway musical, flying into theaters this November, now is a great time to watch 'Wicked,' or, like me, rewatch it for the dozenth time. If you're totally out of the loop on this one, 'Wicked' is a prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz,' which tells the previously untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Glinda the Good at Shiz University. Watch "Wicked" on Prime Video now Arnold Schwarzenegger headlining an action-thriller should always be a recipe for entertainment, but sadly, this David Ayer-directed movie completely forgets to have fun with its larger-than-life star. Favoring grit over all, 'Sabotage' is horribly po-faced, and while some viewers will enjoy the level of violence, it's the lack of fun-factor that sinks this one for me. It's a shame as there's even a pretty strong cast around Arnie, including Sam Worthington, Olivia Williams, Terrence Howard and Joe Manganiello. 'Sabotage' sees Schwarzengger play the leader of an elite DEA task force. His squad completes a raid on a safe house operated by one of the world's most dangerous drug cartels, and they opt to steal $10 million to keep for themselves. It seems like the perfect crime, but there's a turncoat in their midst as the members involved in the theft start being killed one by one. Conceptually, it's a neat idea, but the final result is very skippable. Watch "Sabotage" on Prime Video now (if you must)
