The first Annual Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival and market will take place from January 28-31, 2009 at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

The event has been established with the support of the Brazilian Consulate in LA and Brazilian film support agency Ancine to bridge the gap between Hollywood, Brazil and the international film community and will offer film-makers the chance to network with producers and distributors from Latin America.

Festival top brass expect to programme approximately ten features, 30 shorts films and an additional number of shorts from students and young film-makers up to three minutes long.

Prizes will be awarded for best narrative, documentary, short, actor, actress, director and screenwriter, with possibly more to follow. Sources at the festival said the aim was to secure distribution for the winners.