School of Film and Media Studies

Presented by Dr. Paula Halperin, Rio, Zona Norte (1957), directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos, holds a key place in the history of Brazilian cinema because it helped lay the groundwork for the Cinema Novo, the influential 1960s movement that reshaped filmmaking in Brazil. The movie stands out for its strong social realism, portraying life in the working-class neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro through the story of a struggling samba composer who is exploited by the music industry, played by Grande Otelo.

By focusing on marginalized characters and openly addressing social inequality, the film drew inspiration from Italian neorealism. In Nelson Pereira dos Santos’s career, Rio, Zona Norte represents the consolidation of a socially engaged and realistic filmmaking approach that he had already begun developing in Rio 40 Graus (1955), influencing later filmmakers such as Glauber Rocha.

Today, the film remains highly relevant because it addresses social inequality, cultural marginalization, and the exploitation of artists. The film is especially important because it offers an unfiltered look at Brazilian society, moving beyond common stereotypes and tourist images.

The Humanities symposium is a way to share and celebrate the great work of our students with faculty, friends, and family.

“In Tsou’s charming solo directorial debut, I-Jing, her teenage sister and their mother have just moved back to Taipei after years away in the countryside. Their mother Shu-Fen (Janel Tsai), opens a noodle stand in the capital’s famous night markets in an attempt to start a new life for her family. But a fresh start is rarely an easy one. Day after day, Shu-Fen toils to keep her food stall and family afloat — trying to pay the stall’s rent while juggling the debt she accumulated from her ex-husband’s funeral, and taking care of her daughters, who couldn’t be more different.” (NPR)

Congratulations on your acceptance to Purchase!

Women on the Verge — A Tribeca Student Shorts Showcase

Cinema Studies alumna Madison Egan returns to campus for a special screening and conversation featuring four international student short films that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

All four films are directed by women and explore young women coming into their own - standing on the verge of something larger than themselves, much like the students who created them.

Following the screening, Egan will discuss the importance of student shorts at major festivals, how filmmakers research and submit to festivals, and what programmers look for when selecting new voices.

Egan served as a Short Film Programmer at Tribeca, where she helped select emerging filmmakers from around the world. This program includes two films from each year she worked as a programmer (2024 & 2025), offering a rare look at how student work reaches one of the industry’s most influential festivals.

Congratulations on your acceptance to Purchase!