Rio heaps awards on Brazilian western 'Matraga'

RIO P JANEIRO -- Vinicius Coimbra's debut feature "Matraga," a Brazilian western-styled drama, nabbed five kudos around the final evening from the thirteenth Rio p Janeiro Film Festival, which wrapped Tuesday. Pic, with different short story by Brazilian author Guimaraes Rosa, required the feature, actor (for Joao Miguel), supporting actor (Jose Wilker), special jury (Chico Anysio) and aud feature honours. The very first time within the Rio festival's history, exactly the same pic nabbed the jury and aud feature kudos. In another first, doc helmer Eduardo Coutinho nabbed the jury and aud feature doc Redeemers for "Tunes," a nostalgia-filled journey through local music. Eduardo Nunes' debut pic "Southwest," a black-and-whitened spiritual journey through Brazil's northeast, required the special jury, editing and Fipresci kudos. Karim Ainouz got the helmer kudo for "The Silver High cliff," while Odilon Rocha nabbed the film writer kudo for his "Prime Time Cleaning soap" telenovela star Camila Pitanga required the actress prize for Beto Brant and Renato Ciasca's "I'd Get the Worst News Out Of Your Beautiful Lips," Maria Luisa Mendonca won the supporting actress award for "Tomorrow Never Comes," and Jordana Berg copped the cinematography Redeemer for "Marcelo Yuka: Stick to the Signs." A lot more than 300 photos were tested in the fest, that also featured an active market section. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com