Gramado Film Festival to host inaugural International Cities Meeting

The first International Cities Meeting is scheduled to take place from 12 to 14 August at the Gramado Film Market in southern Brazil. The event will convene municipal officials from several major cities alongside representatives from Brazilian and Ibero-American organisations. According to Variety, delegates from Medellín, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Maricá, and the host city of Gramado will discuss how the creative economy, specifically the audiovisual sector, can contribute to social and economic growth. Ralphe Cardoso, general coordinator of the Gramado Film Market, stated that the programme will focus on the successful experiences of Medellín in Colombia and Gramado in Brazil. Medellín has a population of approximately 2.4 million, while Gramado, a tourist hub in southern Brazil, has roughly 40,000 residents. The meeting is part of the wider Gramado Film Market, which examines the audiovisual industry as a driver for development. Confirmed speakers include Marcelo Pedrazzi, María Fernanda Galeano Rojo, Gabriel Portella, and Letícia Friedrich. The Gramado Film Festival is one of Brazil's most significant cinematic events, and its film market is designed to foster professional collaboration and explore the economic and cultural potential of the film industry.