Ana Murgel

The story of five generations of the Austrian-Brazilian Knieps family, from the inauguration of their family-owned Great Mystical Circus in the 1910s up to the early 21st century, following both the family and the circus from their prime through to their decadence.

Favela Gay tells the story of eleven individuals in their own words. Living in eight slums (favelas) in Rio de Janeiro, these members of the LGBTQ community – two transgender women, a crossdressing man, a travesti prostitute, a famous carnival dancer, two community activists, and even a young man who used to be transgender, but transitioned back – have fought prejudice and seen some of the most unsavoury sides of the city.

Taking as a starting point the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in Brazil, the documentary “Carnaval para D. João VI” aims to address questions about the transformations that have occurred in the relationship between Brazilians and Portuguese since then. The film goes back to the disembarkation of the court while envisioning a globalized future where historical stereotypes are overcome and reinvented.