The Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB) in São Paulo opens its doors, free of charge, for the second edition of the “Mestras do Macabro” showcase. The series, running from April 18 to May 24, brings together horror filmmakers from different continents, highlighting female production in a traditionally male genre.
Curated by researcher Beatriz Saldanha, the selection includes works ranging from independent cinema to mainstream, as well as experimental proposals. Among the honorees are American videomaker Cecília Condit, French director Marina de Van, and Brazilian actress Gilda Nomacce. The initiative, produced by BLG Entretenimento, also highlights women working behind the scenes – screenwriters, editors, and cinematographers – broadening the view of female presence in the audiovisual production chain.
With 28 feature films and 10 shorts, both national and international, the showcase presents the most relevant horror of recent years, emphasizing women’s historic contribution to the genre. “It is rewarding to conceive a retrospective dedicated to women who, although essential to horror, often remain anonymous,” says the curator.
In addition to the screenings, the program offers in‑person activities such as the course “Female abjection as a strategy of liberation in horror cinema”, Gilda Nomacce’s masterclass on performance in horror films, and panel discussions with screenwriters and critics. It also screens national premieres – “Love Kills” by Luiza Shelling Tubaldini and “Virtuosas” by Cíntia Domit Bittar – accompanied by talks and accessibility resources. Ceará‑born filmmaker Monica Demes will take part in the screening of “The Awakening of Lilith”, an American film featuring singer Bárbara Eugênia in the role of a vampire.
The “Mestras do Macabro” showcase reaches audiences in three CCBB locations (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília), reinforcing the debate about horror and contemporary female experience, while encouraging new generations of women to enter the film industry.
