GP7 Cinema, a production company based in Paraná, continues to expand its presence in the national audiovisual market
and announces the start of development on three new feature-length
fiction film projects through its Creative Hub.

The projects TOM, CONTESTADO, and YULIA E O ANIVERSÁRIO NO NATAL were selected under Call for Proposals No. 002/2023 – Support for Audiovisual Production Projects and Screenplay Development for Audiovisual Works, promoted by the Paraná State Secretariat of Culture, with funding from the Paulo Gustavo Law. The call for proposals, considered the largest in the audiovisual sector in Paraná, was created to support screenplay development and the production of audiovisual works throughout the state.

The initiative reinforces GP7 Cinema’s ongoing strategy to identify new talent, establish creative partnerships, and continuously strengthen its project portfolio, both in the film segment and in the development of television and streaming series.

The selected screenwriters already have a creative relationship with the production company, and, starting with this development phase, their projects officially become part of GP7 Cinema’s strategic portfolio.

Once the development materials are finalized, the production company will take on the structuring and production of the three feature films.

“Our Creative Hub’s mission is to keep the production company constantly moving forward, identifying new stories, talents, and market opportunities. Developing solid projects today is what allows us to approach major funds, grant programs, industry players, and national and international partners fully prepared tomorrow,” notes Andréia Kaláboa, a partner at GP7 Cinema and producer of the projects alongside Guto Pasko.

 

Projects in Development

TOM

Created by screenwriter Ana Cláudia Justino, Tom is a drama with elements of magical realism set in the late 1960s.

The story follows a 10-year-old Black boy who, after the loss of his grandmother, faces brutal episodes of racism at a rural school while finding in
his ancestry and family memories the strength he needs to reaffirm his identity and carry on.

Inspired by real-life accounts and the author’s family memories, the project addresses themes such as structural racism, belonging, generational trauma, and ancestral spirituality, offering a deeply Brazilian and emotionally
powerful narrative.

CONTESTADO

Written by Fernando Honesko, who will also direct the feature film, *Contestado* is a historical drama with thriller elements set during the Contestado War.

The story follows Antônio, a rebellious caboclo wounded in combat, and Miroslav, a young Ukrainian immigrant settled in rural Paraná. Forced to coexist amid the conflict, the two discover that, in times of war, the enemy is not always on the other side.

With a strong human and historical dimension, the project seeks to revisit one of the most significant—and still largely unexplored—episodes
in the territorial and social formation of southern
Brazil.

YULIA AND THE CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY

Developed by Andréia Kaláboa and Ana Johann, *Yulia and the Birthday at Christmas* is a dramatic and comedic feature film for children and young adults, inspired by Kaláboa’s short film *Happy Birthday to You*, which won awards at film festivals, notably for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction at the 2019 Brasília Brazilian Film Festival.

The story follows Yulia, a nine-year-old girl of Slavic immigrant descent who lives in a rural community in the interior of Paraná and wants nothing more than a birthday party that reflects her individuality—but ends up clashing with the family and cultural traditions of her community. Set in the world of rural communities of Eastern European immigrants in the interior of Paraná, particularly in regions such as Irati, Guarapuava, and Prudentópolis, the film invites reflection on identity, multiculturalism, a sense of belonging, and generational diversity.