“Pinga Fogo” Enters New Phase with Strong Presence in Brazilian and International Festivals

Written and directed by Vitória Mantovani and produced by Roger Ribeiro, the short film “Pinga Fogo” marks a new chapter in its journey. The film is deepening the dialogue on spirituality, ancestral memory, and resistance through its participation in national and international festivals and screenings. The film had its theatrical premiere in July 2025 in São Paulo, the director's hometown. Since then, it has solidified its path on the global circuit, accumulating prestigious selections and awards.

Among its top honors, “Pinga Fogo” won Best Drama at the New York Movie Awards and Best Narrative at the Milan Gold Awards. The short was also invited to join the programming of the Satyrianas Festival, selected by the Phenomena Festival, named a semi-finalist at the Vesuvio International Movie Award, and received an Honorable Mention at Films That Move, bolstering the film's international standing within the independent circuit.

This February, the production was selected for the 30th FEMI (Festival Régional et International du Cinéma de Guadeloupe), expanding its reach into the Caribbean scene. The film also received a Best Poster nomination at the AltFF Alternative Film Festival and reached the semi-finals in the poster category at the Director’s Cut Int'l Film Festival.

About Pinga Fogo

Through a narrative that intertwines past and present through the lens of Black female protagonism, Pinga Fogo dives into the spiritual strength of Jade, a woman facing domestic violence who finds salvation by incorporating her Exu-Mirim outside of the terreiro (sacred space)—a rare and sacred occurrence reserved for extreme life-or-death situations.

From this breaking point, the film weaves together flashbacks of past incarnations with the present day, evoking faith, reincarnation, and the confrontation of colonial structures as paths toward healing and liberation.

For Vitória Mantovani, the film is born from an intimate spiritual experience:

“The goal of this short film is to remind us that we are never alone, even when our free will is respected. The love we sow in one life can indeed be harvested in others. We mix flashbacks of past incarnations with the present and, through Black female lead characters, we continue to challenge the ideals of the white colonizer. But thanks to Pinga Fogo, we will prevail.”

As a practitioner of Afro-Brazilian religions, the director emphasizes that the work is rooted in the belief in the protection of spiritual guides:

“I’ve always heard that a spirit only incorporates outside the sacred grounds in extreme, life-or-death moments, and that is exactly what happens to our protagonist. Jade, a constant victim of her husband’s abuse, is saved when her Exu-Mirim incorporates to protect her.”

For producer Roger Ribeiro, the film’s significance goes beyond the artistic field:

“Producing a film with such immense meaning—illustrating and exalting an Afro-Brazilian character—is more than an artistic work; it is a cultural victory. ‘Pinga Fogo’ was born with a purpose much larger than just being a movie; it opens a path of real possibilities and gives a voice to many.”

With a powerful and spiritualized narrative, “Pinga Fogo” reaffirms resistance as an ancestral heritage and spirituality as an instrument of transformation, bringing stories that have historically been silenced to the center of the screen—now led by those who live, feel, and reclaim them.

Synopsis & Credits

Pinga Fogo - Brazil - Fiction - 15 min - Dir. Vitória Mantovani

Pinga Fogo is the Exu-Mirim (spirit guide) who accompanies Jade on her life journey. However, tired of the constant abuse Jade suffers at the hands of her husband, Pinga Fogo decides to intervene and reveal his own story.

Key Crew:

• Written & Directed by: Vitória Mantovani

• Executive Producer / Producer: Roger Ribeiro

• Director of Photography: Carol Guimarães

• Art Direction: Irwing Leandro

• Editing: Richner Allan

• Color Grading: Gabriel Monteiro

• Sound Mix & Score: Alex Kim Manso

About Vitória Mantovani – Director & Screenwriter

With extensive experience in filmmaking, curation, and audiovisual distribution, Vitória Mantovani has served as a Distribution Advisor at Spcine and collaborated with institutions such as Itaú Cultural, Kondzilla, and Band Sports. She is currently an Executive Producer and AI Creative at Bonobo AI and Director of the AI FILM AWARDS BRAZIL, a festival dedicated to AI-assisted films launching in late 2026. Holding an MBA in Cinema from the Latin American Film Institute, she brings a perspective committed to diversity, representation, and the strengthening of independent media.

About the Production Company – Big Bang Filmes

Founded in 2017 by actor and filmmaker Roger Ribeiro, Big Bang Filmes was established to turn dreams into reality through audiovisual storytelling. Specializing in films, series, and institutional videos, the company has won 18 awards and numerous honorable mentions. Registered with Ancine since 2019, it stands out for its innovation, diversity, and narrative impact.

Festival Selections & Awards

• Winner: Best Drama – New York Movie Awards

• Winner: Best Narrative – Milan Gold Awards

• Honorable Mention – Films That Move

• Official Selection – London Independent Film Festival

• Official Selection – 30th FEMI (Guadeloupe)

• Official Selection – Los Angeles Fantasia Fest

• Official Selection – Toronto Global Film Festival

• Official Selection – Phenomena Festival

• Official Selection – Entertainment Week Africa

• Semi-Finalist – Vesuvio International Movie Award

• Nominee – NanoCon International Film Festival (NIFF)

• Best Poster Nominee – AltFF Alternative Film Festival

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Press Contact: Cristiano Filiciano Email: cristianofsrivero@gmail.com

Phone: +55 11 95605-9584