“The Sun Can Blind” (O Sol Pode Cegar) (Brazil) by writer/director Toti Loureiro screened at the 20th Palm Springs International Shortfest. Made on a shoestring budget, the film wowed audiences for its gritty realism and naked truth about hard social life in Brazil's metropolis Sao Paolo. Paulo is a Paulista (native of Sao Paulo) who begins an affair with his maid, Maria. The two of them begin to feel growing emotions for each other as their intimacy intensifies but when Paolo shares his bedroom secrets with his street friends, horrific events take place showing us the dark side always lurking behind the light.
“This is my first film as a writer and director, and is the first part of trilogy of films about Brazilian teenagers,” says Toti, “The film was featured by Folha de Sao Paulo, the most respected Brazilian newspaper as one of the best Brazilian short films of the year, because of the courage in portraying the social differences of the country showing a relationship of exploration.” When I asked Toti about his experience at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, he replied: "Winning this award was a blessing. It was more than I was expecting, especially as there were so many other great films and talented filmakers in Palm Spring this year."
“The Sun Can Blind” (O Sol Pode Cegar) won the Alexis Award (honor to the young filmmaker Alexis Echavarria) for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker at the 2014 Palm Springs Shortfest. Loureiro received Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple Computer.