This Is Ballroom

Salão De Baile

Stills
Book Tickets
On the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, the city’s top ballroom houses convene in a sweaty, euphonic competition, in this electrifying portrait of contemporary queer Brazil.

Conceived in New York during the 1960s, when two Black queens left the white-dominated pageant contests behind to create their own scene, ballroom culture has long been a space of freedom, expression and transgression. Some 50 years on, the ballroom scene in Brazil is thriving, with houses across the country teaching the art of shade. Directed by queer Brazilian artists Juru and Vitã, This Is Ballroom stages a real-life ball in a warehouse in the city. Riotously soundtracked, the film only pauses for breath to illuminate the lives of its trans-led cast; away from the dancefloor, these interviews reveal simmering racial and gender tensions. Capturing the spirit of a new, emerging generation, This Is Ballroom celebrates this world as a bounteous and transformative space for queer people of colour.

Film details

  • Director(s)
    Juru, Vitã
  • Country(s)
    Brazil
  • Year
    2024
  • Duration
    94 mins
  • Executive producer(s)
    Camilla Ribeiro
  • Producer(s)
    Luis Carlos de Alencar, Henrique Landulfo
  • Cinematography
    Paula Monte, Suelen Menezes
  • Editing
    Peterkino
  • Sound
    Thiago Sobral, Vitor Kruter, Priscila Alves, Globalkunt, Tomaz Griva Viterbo, Pedro Moraes
  • Language(s)
    Portuguese, English
  • Subtitles
    English Subtitles Throughout
  • Certification
    Unclassified 18+

Book tickets

This Is Ballroom + Q&A
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Showroom - Screen 1
English Subtitles Throughout
Q&A with director Vitã, producer Henrique Landufo, cinematographer Suelen Menezes, editor Peterkino. Moderated by Harry Kalfayan.
This Is Ballroom + Q&A
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Curzon - Screen 2
English Subtitles Throughout
Q&A with director Vitã, producer Henrique Landufo, cinematographer Suelen Menezes, editor Peterkino. Moderated by Darshan Gajjar.
This Is Ballroom + Q&A
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Showroom - Warner Chappell Production Music Screen 4
English Subtitles Throughout
Q&A with cinematographer Suelen Menezes, editor Peterkino. Moderated by Frances Byrne.

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