John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent TOLEDO, Spain — Brazil’s Ventre Studio is readying a powerful slate of scripted series mining the rapidly growing Portugal-Brazil co-production axis, which Ventre itself has helped forge with “Godless John,” produced by Ventre Studio and Canal Brasil as well as Coral Europa and TVI in Portugal.
First up in titles is dramedic mini-series “Coligay,” directed by Oscar-nominated Paulo Machline (“A Soccer Story”) and Rafael Gomes, helmer of LGBTQ romantic drama “45 Days Away From You.” Canal Brasil has boarded “Coligay” licensing Brazilian first window TV rights.
A scripted series about Brazil’s extraordinary first LGBTQ soccer supporter’s group, “Coligay” turns on the flamboyantly gay fan collective of soccer club Grêmio, which flowered over 1977-83.
A symbol of courage and resistance in late 1970s Brazil, it paraded its support for Grêmio in the until-then homophobic context of Brazilian soccer.