Agarb Braga, filmmaker responsible for the film “Americana” (Pará, 2025), selected for the Brazilian Competition.
Brazil is the country that kills the most transgender and transvestite people, and “Americana” features trans bodies in a police station. However, their presence is motivated by a trivial fight in a public place, with a comedic tone. How do you believe this narrative can contribute to the creation of other stories about the LGBTQIAPN+ population that are not strictly linked to pain or suffering? Life isn’t just made of pain and suffering; we also have happy moments, crazy situations where we stop and think, “Wow, this looks like a scene from a movie!” We, trans and LGBTQIAPN+ bodies, also experience joy, friendships, love, and the daily chaos. In my group of friends, for example, there’s always a lot of laughter and lightheartedness. In “Americana,” I wanted to convey exactly that: this love between friends, this complicity that, even with fights and hardships, resolves itself and ends in unity. I believe that not all queer cinema needs to be drama (although I love a good drama!). Just like life, we have days of struggle and days of glory. I hope to see more and more films that portray trans experiences with naturalness, affection, and humor.
When viewing the promotional material for the short film, it’s impossible not to notice the presence of Leona Vingativa, who became popular on the internet and remains in the collective imagination through memes. How did this partnership for this project come about? During the film’s pre-production, I was sitting alone in a bar when an insight came to me: what if I cast Leona Vingativa in the film? That’s when I messaged the film’s producer, and he got her contact information. I then messaged her asking, “Is this Nati Natini Natiê?” She replied, “The one and only!” I told her about the project, and she agreed immediately. I was super nervous during our first rehearsal because I’m a huge fan of Leona, but when we met, it was magical: everyone connected very quickly; it truly felt like a meeting between friends. The casting was essential for “Americana” to have this unique energy, and I’m very grateful for that.