ASH WEDNESDAY, directed by João Pedro Prado and Bárbara Santos, celebrated its world premiere on February 21, 2023, as part of the Küsse und Kämpfe program—a collection of three mid-length university films shown in this year’s Perspektive Deutsches Kino section at the Berlinale. The cast and crew shared their gratitude with a sold-out crowd at Berlin’s historic Kino International.
Critic Gunda Bartels of Tagesspiegel described Ash Wednesday as a “half-hour smash hit,” noting its captivating mix of Brazilian rhythms, bold colors, and fierce messages, which made it “the only formal surprise in the Perspektive lineup”.
In another Tagesspiegel article, Lena Schneider highlighted the film’s focus on police violence against Black Brazilians, a story told through a Portuguese-language musical brimming with Brazilian rhythms and tones. “‘That this film is part of Perspektive: What does that say about what German cinema is today?’ reflects Prado. This prospect excites him.”
ASH WEDNESDAY was produced by Schuldenberg Films and Vincent Edusei/Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. It was funded by War on Screen festival in France and the German Ministry of Culture (BKM).