In 2026, the Favelas Observatory will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and nothing could be more fitting than a big celebration! So, this Saturday, the Festival DE FAVELAS will take place, featuring a free lineup of music, film, debates, and more at Galpão Bela Maré!
Furthermore, the event not only celebrates the institution’s history but also encourages reflection on favelas and the outskirts. We’ll share more details here!
Festival draws inspiration from the image of rebar, a recurring feature in these communities
The festival’s identity stems from an image that is very common in the architecture of the favelas: the rebar exposed in the buildings.
For the Observatory, this element does not represent something unfinished, but rather the structure that keeps open the possibility of new floors.
As Isabela Souza, a member of the institution’s board of directors, states: “The foundation exists because many people built it, but it remains open so that future generations can continue to add new layers to this story.”
It’s also worth noting that the current management team is composed entirely of women: Elionalva Sousa, Isabela Souza, Priscila Rodrigues, and Raquel Willadino.
Check out the DE FAVELAS Festival schedule
The Festival DE FAVELAS takes place this Saturday, and the program starts early!
At 10 a.m., CineBela, Galpão Bela Maré’s film club, will screen the animated film *Como Mágica* by Nathan Greno, followed by a discussion with Pietra Mesquita and Ysake Rosa.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., artist and researcher Thiago Britto will lead the workshop “The Technology of Imagination, ” which uses writing, drawing, and photography to explore memory, emotions, and visual narratives tied to the local area.
At 2 p.m., the exhibition “It All Starts with the Territory” opens to celebrate the institution’s anniversary. Curated by Ana V. Lopes and Monara Barreto, the exhibition brings together photographs and audiovisual works by AF Rodrigues, Ana Bia Novais, Arthur Viana, Caio França, Diego Reis, Elisângela Leite, and other artists.
In the afternoon, three roundtable discussions will shape the festival’s political and cultural debate: “Mutirão: The Power of Working Together” (2:00 p.m.), on collective organization; “Good Living, Territory, and Democracy” (3:30 p.m.), on care, social justice, and the right to the city; and “Inventing Futures: Culture, Memory, and the Creation of Narratives” (5:00 p.m.), on the role of art and communication in elevating the status of the favelas.
Confirmed guests include Ana Santos, Ricardo Henriques, Eliana Sousa, Aliã Wamiri Guajajara, Silvana Bahia, and Francisco Valdean.
The night wraps up with plenty of music, featuring a samba circle led by Grupo Arruda and a set by DJ Bieta.
Festival DE FAVELAS
📍Galpão Bela Maré | Rua Bittencourt Sampaio, 169 – Nova Holanda, Maré
📅August 22
🕛Starting at 10 a.m.
💵Free
