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The Ferry

On Christmas Eve, two women chat on a boat, as it glides over the waters of the dark, cold pond. Life and death travel with them in the same boat, gliding over the same waters. An unexpected event will mark the end of this crossing.

The short film The Ferry (A Barca) is an adaptation of the short story "Natal na Barca" (Christmas on the ferry, 1958), by Brazilian writer Lygia Fagundes Telles, who received the Camões Prize (the largest literary prize for Portuguese-speaking authors) in 2005.
This tale is present in her book of short stories entitled Before the Green Ball (Antes do Baile Verde) (1970).

  • Nilton Resende
    Director
  • Nilton Resende
    Writer
  • Rafhael Barbosa
    Producer
  • Nina Magalhães
    Producer
  • Felipe Guimarães
    Producer
  • Ane Oliva
    Key Cast
    "The woman"
  • Wanderlândia Melo
    Key Cast
    "The mother"
  • Aline Marta
    Key Cast
    "The driver"
  • Yan Claudemir
    Key Cast
    "The baby"
  • Rogério Dyaz
    Key Cast
    "The drunk"
  • Rafhael Barbosa
    First assistant director
  • Nina Magalhães
    Art director
  • Lis Paim
    Editing
  • Marcos André Caraciolo
    Digital effects
  • Marcos André Caraciolo
    Colourist
  • Leandro Alves
    Production Assistant
  • Michel Rios
    Director of Photography
  • Chapola Silva
    First camera assistant
  • Chapola Silva
    Camera Operator
  • Nathaly Pereira
    Art director assistant
  • Nathaly Pereira
    Make-up artist
  • Leo Bulhões
    Direct sound
  • Lucas Coelho
    Sound Designer
  • Lucas Coelho
    Sound Mixing
  • Vanessa Mota
    Stills Photographer
  • Moab Oliveira
    Gaffer
  • Paulo Silver
    Second assistant director
  • Nataska Conrado
    Poster Creator
  • Paulo Silver
    Logger
  • Nilton Resende
    Casting Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 29, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    14,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1 
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 1º Festival das Águas do Espírito Santo
    Vitória
    Brazil
    March 18, 2023
  • FENACIN | Festival Nacional de Cinema Independente

    Brazil
    December 10, 2022
    Best Supporting Actress: Wanderlândia Melo
  • Festival de Cinema de Alter do Chão
    Santarém
    Brazil
    November 16, 2022
  • V Mostra Sesc de Cinema - Panorama Brasil

    Brazil
    November 22, 2022
  • Muído Festival - Festival de Cinema de Campina Grande
    Campina Grande
    Brazil
    August 19, 2022
    Best Art Direction
  • Festival de Cinema da Ilha
    São Luís
    Brazil
    June 3, 2022
  • Festival de Cinema de Arapiraca
    Arapiraca
    Brazil
    May 23, 2022
    Best Actress: Wanderlândia Melo
  • FECSTA - Festival de Cinema de Santa Teresa
    Santa Teresa
    Brazil
    July 28, 2022
    Best Fiction
  • Mostra de Curtas do Norte - Pachamama
    Rio Branco
    Brazil
    February 18, 2022
  • Festival RNAB
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    March 25, 2022
  • Lusomovies
    Roma
    Italy
    June 1, 2022
  • Agenda Brasil
    Milão
    Italy
    June 1, 2022
  • FestCine
    Poços de Caldas
    Brazil
    March 21, 2022
  • Festival RENUAC
    Santiago
    Chile
    March 1, 2022
  • Rotary Short Film Festival - ROFIFE
    Bolu
    Turkey
    March 17, 2022
  • Germany's Weihnachtsfilmfestival - 5th International Festival Of Unconventional Christmas Films In Berlin
    Berlin
    Germany
    December 22, 2021
  • PADOVA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (PiFF)
    Padova
    Italy
    December 19, 2021
  • MOSCA - Mostra Audiovisual de Cambuquira
    Cambuquira
    Brazil
    December 15, 2021
  • Festival Internacional de Cinema do Caeté – FICCA.
    Bragança do Pará
    Brazil
    December 8, 2021
  • Savona International Film Event
    Savona
    Italy
    December 6, 2021
  • International Shorts Film Festival
    Southbank
    Australia
    December 6, 2021
    Melhor Curta Internacional de Drama/Best Drama International Short
  • Festival Internacional de Cine Austral
    Córdoba
    Argentina
    December 4, 2021
    Best Latinamerican Screenplay; Best Latinamerican Fiction
  • Festival Internacional Del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano
    Habana
    Cuba
    December 3, 2021
  • FICBC - Festival Internacional de Cinema em Balneário Camboriú
    Balneário Camboriú
    Brazil
    Decembrr 02, 2021
  • Patmos Cinema Festival
    Patmos
    Greece
    December 2, 2021
  • CineCreed
    Recife
    Brazil
    November 18, 2021
  • FESTin - Festival de Cinema Itinerante da Língua Portuguesa
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    November 17, 2021
  • FESTIVAL CINE URUTU
    Pindamonhangaba
    Brazil
    November 13, 2021
    Melhor Fotografia/Best Cinematography
  • V Festissauro - Festival de Cinema de Sousa
    Sousa
    Brazil
    November 11, 2021
  • The Pigeon International Film Festival ( PIFF )
    Isafjordur
    Iceland
    October 14, 2021
  • Seattle Latino Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    October 8, 2021
  • Bolton International Film Festival
    Bolton
    United Kingdom
    September 29, 2021
  • Kraljevski filmski festival
    Kraljevo
    Serbia
    September 24, 2021
  • FIC RIO - Festival Internacional de Curtas no Rio de Janeiro
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    July 26, 2021
    Best Supporting Actress/Melhor Atriz Coadjuvante
  • Periferia Dell'impero - International Short Film Festival
    Sessa Aurunca
    Italy
    July 23, 2021
  • Nehemiah Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    July 15, 2021
    Best International Short/Melhor Curta Internacional
  • Brittany International Film Festival
    Locronan
    France
    July 9, 2021
    Prix de l'Hermine - Best Movie
  • 17º Festival Imagem-Movimento (FIM)
    Macapá
    Brazil
    June 23, 2021
  • EXIBE - Mostra de Cinema de Barbacena
    Barbacena
    Brazil
    June 16, 2021
  • VII Mostra Curta Vazantes: Cinema em Comunidade
    Aracoiaba
    Brazil
    June 14, 2021
    Melhor Fotografia/Best Cinematography
  • Cult Movies International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 1, 2021
  • Luminous Frame
    Kjellerup
    Denmark
    May 15, 2021
    Best Poster / Best Actress
  • Festival del Cinema di Cefalù
    Cefalù
    Italy
    May 1, 2021
  • Leonid Khromov International Film Festival (LKIFF)
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    April 24, 2021
  • VI Taxco Film Fest
    Taxco de Alarcón
    Mexico
    April 23, 2021
    Mexican Premiere
  • Festival Digital Curta Campos do Jordão
    Campos do Jordão
    Brazil
    April 21, 2021
    Best Short Film / Melhor Curta de Ficção
  • FANTACINE
    Porto Velho
    Brazil
    April 20, 2021
  • VI Mostra de Cinema e Audiovisual CineCaos
    Cuiabá
    Brazil
    April 20, 2021
  • Mostra de Cinema Negro Pilão
    João Pessoa
    Brazil
    April 19, 2021
  • FANTASPOA
    Porto Alegre
    Brazil
    April 9, 2021
    Melhor Curta Metragem Nacional/Best National Short Movie
  • XicanIndie – Xicano Independent Filmmakers' Festival (XIFF)
    Denver
    United States
    April 8, 2021
    Premio Chones for Outstanding Short Subject
  • FLICKFAIR
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 1, 2021
  • 4º Mostra Itinerante de Cinemas Negros - Mahomed Bamba
    Salvador
    Brazil
    March 31, 2021
  • ISAFF - International Short&Symbolic Art Film Festival
    Saint Petersburg
    Russian Federation
    March 27, 2021
  • Fest Cine Saqua
    Saquarema
    Brazil
    March 20, 2021
  • Catalyst International Film Festival
    Limerick City
    Ireland
    March 19, 2021
  • TRAVEL FILM International Film Festival
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    March 10, 2021
  • RIMA (Rio de Janeiro International Monthly Awards)
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    March 10, 2021
    Best Direction / Best Cinematography / Best Supporting Actress
  • 8º Mostra de Cinema de Iguatu
    Igatu
    Brazil
    March 3, 2021
  • Kultura Con
    Luanda
    Angola
    March 2, 2021
  • Horror Lust Film Festival

    United Kingdom
    March 1, 2021
  • Kalaburagi International Short Film Festival -2021
    Gulbarga
    February 27, 2021
  • III Mostra de Cinema Contemporâneo do Nordeste
    Feira de Santana
    Brazil
    February 15, 2021
    Melhor CurtaNordestino/Best Short Film in the Northeast
  • Seridó Cine
    Seridó
    Brazil
    February 8, 2021
    Best Short Fiction
  • Screener Short Films
    Londres
    February 4, 2021
  • 13º Curta Canoa – Festival Latino Americano de Cinema de Canoa Quebrada (Ceará)
    Canoa Quebrada
    January 23, 2021
    Melhor Direção/Best Direction
  • 4º Cine Verão - Festival de Cinema da Cidade do Sol
    Natal
    Brazil
    January 20, 2021
  • 18° Festival internacional Signos da Noite - Lisboa (6° Edição)
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    December 31, 2020
    Portugal Premiere
    Special Mention – Night Award
  • Your Story Matters Film Festival

    United States
    December 20, 2020
  • Curta Brasília
    Brasília
    Brazil
    December 17, 2020
    Best Poster according to the Popular Jury
  • Кіномаршрут-cinemaway
    Zhovkva
    Ukraine
    December 11, 2020
    Special Mention - International Program
  • Rio Fantastik Festival – Festival Internacional De Cinema Fantástico Do Rio De Janeiro
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    December 7, 2020
    Best Short & Best Director (Jury Award) + Best Short & Best Director (Critics Award)
  • The Bowery Awards
    New York
    United States
    December 1, 2020
  • 19ª Mostra De Audiovisual Universitário E Independente Da América Latina - Maual
    Cuiabá
    Brazil
    September 28, 2020
  • Holidays 365 International Film Festival
    Orange/California
    United States
    November 27, 2020
    Best Cinematography & Best Actress (Narrative Short Film) + Best International Short
  • Primeiro Plano — Festival De Cinema De Juiz De Fora E Mercocidades
    Juiz de Fora
    Brazil
    November 24, 2020
    Best Direction
  • Plateau - Festival Internacional De Cinema Da Praia
    Praia
    Cape Verde
    November 23, 2020
    Special Mention - Fiction
  • Circuito Penedo De Cinema
    Penedo
    Brazil
    November 23, 2020
    University Cinema Exhibition (Special Mention)
  • Francigena Film Festival
    Tuscany
    Italy
    November 21, 2020
  • Curta Cinema — Festival Internacional De Curtas Do Rio De Janeiro
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    November 20, 2020
  • Festival De Cinema De Muriaé
    Muriaé
    Brazil
    November 18, 2020
    Best Supporting Actress & Best National Film
  • Uk Christian Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 3, 2020
  • Cinefest São Jorge 2020
    São Jorge
    Brazil
    October 29, 2020
  • 8ª Mostra Tiradentes São Paulo
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    October 1, 2020
  • Cindie Festival
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    September 29, 2020
  • BUEIFF CHANNEL
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    February 25, 2021
  • Trujillo International Independent Film Festival
    Trujillo
    Peru
    September 24, 2020
  • Frapa 2020
    Porto Alegre
    Brazil
    September 23, 2020
  • Cinefest Gato Preto

    Brazil
    September 22, 2020
    MelhorFotografia/Best Cinematography
  • Prague International Indie Film Festival
    Praga
    Czech Republic
    September 18, 2020
  • Curta Solar
    Niterói
    Brazil
    September 16, 2020
  • Mostra Do Filme Livre

    Brazil
    September 12, 2020
  • Kalakari Film Festival
    Devas
    India
    August 25, 2020
  • FestCurtas Fundaj 2020
    Recife
    Brazil
    July 7, 2020
    Best Fiction
  • Festival Independente De Cinema De Jaraguá Do Sul
    Jaraguá do Sul
    Brazil
    May 12, 2020
  • VI FBCI – Festival Brasil de Cinema Internacional
    Limeira
    Brazil
    March 15, 2020
    Best Adapted Screenplay
  • 23ª Mostra de Cinema de Tiradentes
    Tiradentes, Minas Gerais
    Brazil
    January 29, 2020
    Brazilian Premiere
    Mostra Foco
Distribution Information
  • La Ursa Cinematográfica
    Country: Brazil
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Nilton Resende

Nilton Resende is from Maceió, Alagoas. He is Associate Professor of Literature at the State University of Alagoas / Campus Zumbi dos Palmares.
He integrates Cia. Ganymedes de teatro, for which he adapted the novel Mario und der Zauberer (Mario and the Magician), by Thomas Mann, for the play O Mágico (The Magician), which he co-directed and starred. He published the books O Orvalho e os Dias (The Dew and the Days (poetry), Diabolô (Diabolo) (short stories), A Construção de Lygia Fagundes Telles: edição crítica de Antes do Baile Verde (The Construction of Lygia Fagundes Telles: Critical Edition of Before the Green Ball). He has short stories and poems translated and published in French and English magazines. In the cinema, he has worked as an actor, screenwriter, preparer and casting director. “The Ferry” (2020) is his first film as a screenwriter and as a director. "The Ferry" was selected for more than 100 festivals, among which the Mostra Foco of Mostra de Cinema de Tiradentes/2020 and the 42nd International Festival of New Latin American Cinema of Havana.

His first feature film as writer and director is currently in pre-production.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The short film The Ferry (A Barca) is an adaptation of a short story by writer Lygia Fagundes Telles, one of the leading writers of the Portuguese language and one of the main short story writers of twentieth century literature.
Lygia Fagundes Telles, in addition to having already been nominated as a representative of Brazil for the Nobel Prize, had her work awarded with the Camões Prize, the biggest prize in Portuguese-language literature.
The short story that gave rise to the film is one of the main tales of Brazilian literature, and is always present in several anthologies.