Next Sunday, 13, the short film O Melhor Friend, by Allan Deberton, from Ceará, will have its first screening at the Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals dedicated to sexual diversity.
It is the icing on the cake in the very successful trajectory of the film, which recounts the passion of Lucas (Jesuíta Barbosa) for Felipe (Victor Sousa), a friend with whom he shares the house. Between Cape Verde, where he produces the documentary The Other Side of the Atlantic, by Daniele Ellery and Márcio Câmara, and the United States, where he embarked at dawn today to follow the festival, Allan spoke with Cena G.
O PEVO – How did the idea of The Best Friend come about?
Allan Deberton – I was in the post-production phase of my previous short film, Doce de Coco (2010, CE), and I really miss shooting! I took advantage of this melancholy moment, in which various memories surfaced, including loves, friends, college years and I put these feelings on paper. There’s a scene from the movie, the beach tent with the phones, for example, that came from childhood memories! I heard an aunt arrange with a friend of hers to go to a bar with phones, flirt… I’ve never been to this place, it doesn’t exist anymore, but I put it in the movie.
OP – How was the casting?
Allan – From casting with local actors. I invited Jesuit Barbosa to take the test. At the time, he had just returned from Berlin, where he was filming Praia do Futuro, by Karim Aïnouz. I was lucky to have found him again. Marta Aurelia, who is scandalized by the female role, is a delicacy of the Gods.
OP – How has the film’s career been?
Allan – The first exhibition was at Cine Ceará 2013, where it ended up winning the award for Best Ceará Production. Since then, he has participated in Brazilian festivals such as Recife International, Rio de Janeiro International Short Film, Belo Horizonte Film Festival, MixBrasil, Cineport, Arariboia Cine, For Rainbow, Curta Taquary, Recifest, Close and many others. The international career is being wonderful! The film has already been shown at major festivals in Germany, Austria, Australia, Italy, Albania, Serbia, India, Chile, Argentina, the United States and Canada! So far we have participated in 38 festivals and received 12 awards.
OP – How will the participation in this festival be in the United States?
Allan – We are participating in OutFest Los Angeles, which is a festival founded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Hollywood, the institution that awards Oscar films. OutFest is a festival presented by HBO, sponsored by Sony and promoted by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. In other words, participating in a festival like this, in the fervor of Hollywood, is something I never dreamed of. I am very happy (afraid too). 🙂
