The independent horror short film titled 'A Última Fita,' produced in the city of Jundiaí, in the state of São Paulo, will be adapted into a feature film format. This expansion will feature executive production from Elisa Tolomelli, a professional known for her work on acclaimed films such as 'City of God' and 'Central do Brasil.'
The work, which was written and directed by the Jundiaí filmmaker Caroline Adrielli, is currently in the scriptwriting phase under the provisional title 'A Fita.' The original version, with a runtime of 18 minutes and filmed in the region, won six international awards at festivals focused on the slasher genre.
The collaboration between Caroline and Elisa began when the director presented the project during a course taught by the executive producer. Upon seeing the short film, Elisa recognized great narrative potential to transform it into a feature film, aiming to reach a wider audience.
The decision to produce the film
Elisa justified her choice by saying she saw potential in the story and recognized Caroline's clarity on how she wanted to tell the narrative. She commented that the short film demonstrated Caroline's ability to master the language of horror, even while working with limited resources.
The producer also expressed appreciation for collaborating with emerging professionals, believing that cinematic experience can help new directors realize their ideas in projects accessible to the public. With about 40 productions, Elisa has built a career linked to Brazilian cinema with international projection, having been an executive producer for 'Central do Brasil' (by Walter Salles) and 'City of God' (by Fernando Meirelles), both nominated for the Oscar, as well as 'Lavoura Arcaica' (by Luiz Fernando Carvalho).
How the story will be expanded in the feature film
In the plot of 'A Última Fita,' five young people rent a vacation house and discover VHS tapes containing recordings of violent crimes that occurred at the location during the 1990s. Isolated and without phone communication, they realize that the killer remains nearby and that they could be the next victims.
Caroline Adrielli mentioned that the suggestion for the title 'A Fita' came from Elisa and that working with her and the structure of Inova in the finalization represents a chance to deepen a story born in the countryside and bring it to major centers with renowned partners in national cinema.
The director noted that the slasher subgenre, characterized by the pursuit of victims by killers, requires space for character development, crime progression, and plot motivation. Furthermore, comments from horror specialists requested the continuation of the story, confirming its viability for expansion.
The feature film proposal does not aim to alter the events of the short film but rather to develop the context prior to the young people's arrival at the residence and detail the story behind the recordings. Caroline plans to explore what was not addressed in the short film, initially focusing on who the young people are before arriving at the location and why they rented that house.
Another aspect that will gain prominence is the universe of the criminal responsible for the tapes. The director will have time in the feature film to detail how the recordings are prepared and how this element integrates into the narrative, something that in the short film was only presented through the footage.
The script will remain under Caroline's responsibility, with support from production. Elisa emphasized that the goal is to maintain the director's creative vision while providing support for a larger-scale production.
Expanding the reach of inland cinema
The São Paulo director highlighted that this partnership marks a new phase in her career, offering the opportunity to take a narrative created in Jundiaí beyond the region. She stressed that the professional production of a feature film requires a structure distinct from that used in an independent short film.
Caroline insisted that while a short film can be made with friends and local partnerships, a feature film is a strictly professional process linked to the film market. She also highlighted the importance of creating a unique identity for Brazilian horror, building memorable characters and visual elements, as international franchises of the genre do.
Elisa shares the vision of valuing productions outside major audiovisual hubs. For her, filming in other areas allows for the exposure of diverse cultures and boosts the local economy, involving professionals, suppliers, and the community. This helps foster audiovisual production in these regions, generating direct and indirect employment.
Elisa's philosophy is that bringing stories from different locations to the screen serves to present different realities to the public. In the case of 'A Última Fita,' the expansion of the production will allow the story originating in Jundiaí to reach new markets.
When will the feature film be shot?
Currently, the project is in the script development phase and has been submitted to two specific calls for this stage. The text is expected to be completed in early 2027, and the producer hopes to start filming in the second half of the following year. There is currently no definitive schedule, announced cast, or established release date.
The realization will be conducted in collaboration with Inova Filmes, responsible for finalization and audiovisual effects. Elisa informed that the company's structure possesses the necessary technical resources to work on effects even before filming begins.
The producer aims for the feature film to unite elements of horror and humor, contributing to increasing the genre's space in Brazilian cinema, making the audience feel both fear and fun.
Free screening in São Paulo
While the feature film is in development, the public can watch the short film that gave rise to the project in a special Halloween screening. The screening of 'A Última Fita' will take place this Saturday (31st) at 6:30 PM at the Museum of Image and Sound (MIS-SP), in São Paulo. This event will be free and open to the public, marking the short film's debut in the capital of São Paulo and allowing viewers to see the production filmed in Jundiaí that will serve as the basis for the future feature film.
