Theo has been selected for the National Competitive Short Film Showcase of the 21st Fest Aruanda do Audiovisual Brasileiro, one of Brazil’s established film festivals.
The 15-minute fiction film is among 12 short films selected from across the country, representing different regions and bringing together fiction, documentary and animation in this year’s competition.
Set in Brazil in 1986, during the FIFA World Cup, Theo follows a child who challenges gender expectations through an unexpected passion for playing football with boys. Against the backdrop of a football-obsessed country, the film explores childhood, identity and the freedom to define oneself.
The 21st edition of Fest Aruanda takes place from December 2 to 10, 2026, in João Pessoa, Paraíba, bringing together filmmakers and audiences to celebrate the diversity and creative vitality of Brazilian cinema.