“Rocywood” movies — inspired by Hollywood — portray local realities in the favelas, from the joys of growing up in a tight-knit neighborhood to the difficulties of living among violence.

Mariana Simões
Mariana Simões is a Brazilian journalist based in Rio de Janeiro. She is also executive manager at Casa Pública, Brazil's first cultural center for journalism.
Brazil Dissolves Its Ministry of Culture
Acting on a campaign promise to cut back on public spending, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has created an umbrella Ministry of Citizenship which now covers sports, communications, social policy, and culture, all in one.
Brazil’s National Museum Goes Up in Smoke, Leaving Brazilians Heartbroken and Angered
Protesters and museum staff respond after the National Museum lost 90% of its collection to a fire that spread on September 2.
Brazil’s Largest Queer Art Exhibition Reopens After Being Censored Last Year
Criticism from far-right groups led Queermuseum to shut down and sparked a counter-movement that relaunched the exhibit.