CITY OF GOD: FOMO Indi Film Fest

Set in the sprawling favelas of Rio de Janeiro, CITY OF GOD traces the lives of young men growing up inside a world shaped by poverty, violence and survival. The film follows Rocket, an aspiring photographer trying to escape the criminal life around him, and Li’l Zé, a ruthless gang leader rising through the ranks of the drug trade.

Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund cast many non-professional actors from the communities they were depicting, giving the film a raw immediacy rarely seen in crime cinema. The result is an indie darling that moves with extraordinary energy while still remaining grounded in the lived reality of the favela.

The project struggled to secure traditional funding due to the violent subject matter and unknown, non-professional cast. Director Fernando Meirelles stated in an interview, "It was my money, I was paying for it," noting he had to use cost-effective techniques like shooting on 16mm because he didn't have money.

CITY OF GOD premiered at Cannes in 2002 and quickly became an international sensation. It went on to receive four Academy Award nominations and helped introduce a new generation of Brazilian filmmakers to the global stage.