For almost 20 years, the Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – Curta Cinema has invested in creating a diversified audience, always seeking ways to make products accessible which, in general, encounter difficulty in being shown in the market.  Due to the difficulty of this presence on the commercial circuit, we believe in the importance of creating a broad and diversified audience. To this end, the forming of new perspectives on the meanings of audiovisual works is fundamental.  Without this commitment, the work wouldn’t bear fruit, such as the increase in the audience. 

This significant increase in audience brings with it ouir perception that it is made up of young people, willing to abandon old paradigms in favor of new forms of looking at things. Guided by the expectations of this audience, the Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival this year brings a selection marked by the necessity of innovation. Without forgetting to showcase filmmakers who have promoted significant esthetic changes in the audiovisual arena, the selection for 2009 shows that there is ample space for renovation. Attention to the work of these current talents is our most sincere recommendation: they will certainly be heard from a lot in days to come.

- Ailton Franco Jr. - Festival Director