Festival will present 60 new Brazilian productions.

The 12th edition of the Rio Interntaional Film Festival kicks off Thursday with the world premiere screening of Brazilian filmmaker Arnaldo Jabor’s Supreme Happiness (A Suprema Felicidade), his first feature since 1986 Cannes winner Love Me Forever or Never (Eu Sei Que Vou te Amar).

Andrucha Waddington’s epic Lope gets its Latin America premiere on the closing night (Oct 6).

The Panorama strand will screen further Latin American premieres for Sofia Coppola’s Venice Golden Lion winner Somewhere, Jerzy Skolimowski’s Venice Jury Prize winning Essential Killing, Xavier Beauvois’ Cannes Grand Prix winner Of Gods and Men, and Cannes Best Director winner Mathieu Almaric’s Tournée.

Premiere Brazil, the only competitive section in the festival, includes nine feature films, eight feature length documentaries and 21 shorts and a total of over 60 new Brazilian productions. 

This year’s festival sees the addition of Focus Argentina to regular strands Brazil Seen By Others, Dox, Fronteiras, Threatened Environment and Expectativa, which showcases work from rising stars.

More than 300 films will screen over the 14-day event.