As part of the 40th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG40), the renowned Portuguese producer Paulo Branco offered a master class in which he shared his vision of film and independent production. His career includes collaborations with directors such as Raúl Ruiz, Manoel de Oliveira, Wim Wenders and David Cronenberg. In the masterclass The Freedom of Making Cine Branco spoke about his experience producing titles such as Cosmos (2015) and O Velho do Restelo (2014), always guided by curiosity and passion for storytelling.
Although his original training was in chemical engineering, Paulo Branco assures that it was curiosity that led him to the world of cinema. Rather than following a pre-established path, he sought to take control of his life and build his own path, far from the conventional.
He also confessed that he does not consider himself an expert in film, but rather someone who continues to learn with each project. He affirmed that this profession is discovered and perfected along the way, and that it was the people he met throughout his career who encouraged him to dedicate himself to the seventh art.
With more than 300 films produced, Branco emphasized that each project represents a new challenge and requires a different perspective. "I had to be a chameleon of sorts," commented the director as he stressed the importance of adapting to each filmmaker's vision and transforming his approach with each story.
For him, producing is not only about solving problems, but a process in which many dimensions converge, both professional and personal. He stressed that relationships in the film industry go beyond work. About his beginnings in production, he commented: "Producing for us was an adventure, it was an escape from all the rules that people tried to impose on cinema.
Branco pointed out that his work as a producer does not end when a film is shot; his real commitment is to ensure that the work is seen and reaches festivals. For him, producing also implies "ensuring that the memory of the directors and the film lasts".
The master class concluded with a round of questions from the audience, during which he humorously shared that producing films is a risky game: "I've never had money, I'm a big debt producer," he joked. However, he proudly stated that his main goal has always been that no film should go unfinished. Of the more than 300 films he has produced, all have been completed and have been shown.