Urban Sales Has Picked Up The French Teacher
The international sales agency will co-represent the Brazil-France-Portugal co-production.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Foreign
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Paris-based Urban Sales has joined the team representing the upcoming feature film The French Teacher. The movie is scheduled to hold its world premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Why it matters
Director Ricardo Alves Jr. developed the project to address rising social intolerance and right-wing conservatism. The film serves as a cultural exploration of these themes in the lead-up to political events.
The project is a three-way co-production between Brazil, France, and Portugal. It was developed over a 10-year period and received support from the CNC Aides aux Cinémas du Monde scheme.
The players
Ricardo Alves Jr.
He is the director of The French Teacher who began conceptualizing the story in 2016.
Urban Sales
This Paris-based agency is a global sales representative for independent film projects.
Grace Passô
She is an acclaimed actress who serves as one of the lead cast members in the film.
Les Valseurs Distribution
This organization acts as a co-production partner and joint international sales agent for the film.
Jair Bolsonaro
He is the former president of Brazil whose 2018 election serves as historical context for the film.
The details
Produced by EntreFilmes, Les Valseurs, and Karõ Filmes, the film stars Grace Passô, Jehnny Beth, Bárbara Colen, Rodger Rogério, and Elisa Lucinda. Germano Melo wrote the screenplay for the project, which is set in Belo Horizonte.
Timeline
Development of the story began in 2016.
Brazil elected Jair Bolsonaro as president in 2018.
The film premieres at the San Sebastián film festival in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The French Teacher highlights the reliance on multinational financing structures, specifically leveraging the CNC's Aides aux Cinémas du Monde scheme to bridge cultural divides. This approach underscores a broader shift toward collaborative international productions to bypass domestic budget constraints.
The world premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival dictates the initial availability for industry members and international festival attendees. Future release patterns will likely depend on the P&A funding provided through programs like Screen Brasil.
The takeaway
This film reflects the intersection of personal creative development and current political climates in South America. Audiences can monitor regional film festival circuits to track the eventual rollout of this production.
Further reading
Learn more about global distribution trends in our Foreign film section.
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