Columbia TriStar International Television (CTIT) is currently co-producing the first TV movie to be made in Brazil. Titled Favorite Son, the drama is the first of a 12 TV movie package deal with leading Brazilian broadcaster Globo. The story of an Italian woman who returns to Brazil in search for her ailing adopted son's biological mother stars Ornella Mutti and Lucio Flavio.

Rio-based Total Filmes is the main producer of this project. Budgeted at nearly one million dollars, the telefilm is directed by Walter Lima, director of Venice 1997 competitve entry The Oyster And The Wind. CTIT owns the international TV rights with the exception of all Portuguese-speaking territories which belong to Globo and Italy, pre-bought by RAI Television.

The pact extends an informal three feature film accord made last October 2000 between CTIT and Globo. With budgets close to $2m each, the slate kicks off with comedy A Partilha which is directed by Daniel Filho and scheduled for a May 25th release. While the second feature is still undecided, the third of the package is Urban Polaroid, to be directed by Miguel Falabella.