Spcine

Spcine is a state-owned audiovisual development company established by the Municipality of São Paulo in 2015. Created during the administration of Mayor Fernando Haddad and authorized under Municipal Law 15.929, it was designed to strengthen São Paulo’s position as a center for film, television, digital games, and other forms of audiovisual production. The organization is linked to the São Paulo Secretariat of Culture and operates as a public-sector platform connecting policy, production support, exhibition, talent development, location services, and cultural access. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial entertainment brand, Spcine brings together several public-facing programs and services. Its activities include the São Paulo Film Commission, the Circuito Spcine network of public movie theaters, Spcine Play, and Spcine Game. Through these initiatives, the organization addresses different parts of the audiovisual value chain: helping productions obtain permission to film in public spaces, expanding access to cinema outside traditional commercial venues, distributing Brazilian and international films through a public streaming service, and supporting the development of digital-game projects. The São Paulo Film Commission became part of Spcine’s operating structure and has handled applications for authorization to film in public spaces in the city since 2016. The commission also supports the city’s attraction and production infrastructure by publishing practical information for companies and professionals. Spcine has produced guides such as “Production Companies Based in São Paulo,” aimed at international users seeking local production partners, and “Film in São Paulo,” which explains the basics of filming in the city. In October 2021, the commission launched a redesigned registration and access platform for companies and professionals working in or for the audiovisual sector, including production companies, studios, catering providers, drivers, and other suppliers. Circuito Spcine was created in April 2016 as a public cinema circuit intended to widen access to film exhibition. Spcine Play, launched in November 2017 after an initial announcement in late 2016, is described as Brazil’s only public streaming platform. Developed in partnership with O2 Filmes and Hacklab, it provides access to films associated with festivals, cultural institutions, and other partners. During a temporary availability period from December 2020 to January 2021, the service offered 320 titles for free. Its programming has included films connected with the Russian Film Festival, the Latin American Film Festival, the São Paulo International Film Festival, My French Film Festival, Mostra de Cinemas Africanos, É Tudo Verdade, Festival de Finos Filmes, and In-Edit Brasil. Spcine Game, created in April 2020, extends the organization’s mandate into digital games and functions as an incubator for game development. In 2021, Spcine also introduced the City of São Paulo Film Attraction Program, described as Brazil’s first audiovisual production-attraction program based on cash rebates. This initiative complemented the organization’s broader effort to make São Paulo more attractive to domestic and international productions. Spcine’s public role has evolved through changes in leadership. Alfredo Manevy served as president from 2015 to 2016, followed by Mauricio Andrade Ramos from 2017 to 2019, filmmaker Laís Bodanzky from 2019 to 2021, and Viviane Ferreira from 2021 onward according to the cited reference material. The organization’s overall positioning is that of a public cultural and economic-development institution: it promotes local creative industries, improves the city’s production environment, supports exhibition and distribution, and expands public access to audiovisual culture.

Spcine was established in 2015 as an initiative of the São Paulo Municipal Government. Its legal creation was authorized by Municipal Law 15.929 during the administration of Mayor Fernando Haddad. The company was placed within the policy sphere of the São Paulo Secretariat of Culture and given a broad mandate to promote the city’s film, television, games, and new-media industries. The organization’s initial purpose was to consolidate public support for São Paulo’s audiovisual ecosystem. This included assistance for local professionals and companies, measures to attract productions, support for exhibition, and mechanisms for connecting the city’s creative workforce with domestic and international opportunities. Spcine’s public-company model distinguishes it from a private studio, broadcaster, or streaming business: its principal objective is cultural and industrial development rather than commercial content ownership. From 2016, Spcine incorporated the activities of the São Paulo Film Commission. The commission receives applications for authorization to film in public spaces across the city and provides information intended to make production planning easier. Spcine also created Circuito Spcine in April 2016, a network of public movie theaters designed to broaden access to cinema and bring audiovisual programming to audiences beyond conventional commercial exhibition. Spcine Play emerged from an announcement in late 2016 and was launched in November 2017. The public streaming service was developed with O2 Filmes and Hacklab. It provides access to films associated with film festivals, cultural events, and institutional partnerships. Its programming has included selections connected with Brazilian and international festivals, including the São Paulo International Film Festival, the Russian Film Festival, the Latin American Film Festival, My French Film Festival, Mostra de Cinemas Africanos, É Tudo Verdade, Festival de Finos Filmes, and In-Edit Brasil. During a special period between December 2020 and January 2021, 320 titles were made available free of charge. The company expanded further into games with the creation of Spcine Game in April 2020. The initiative operates as an incubator for digital games, reflecting the broadening of public audiovisual policy beyond cinema and television. Spcine also publishes practical guides for the industry, including an English-language directory of production companies based in São Paulo that work with international markets and an English-language guide for people interested in filming in the city. On October 1, 2021, the São Paulo Film Commission launched a rebranded platform for registration and access by companies and professionals working in the audiovisual sector. The platform covered not only production companies and studios but also supporting services such as catering, transportation, and drivers. On October 6, 2021, Spcine launched the City of São Paulo Film Attraction Program, described as Brazil’s first audiovisual production-attraction program using cash rebates. Leadership has changed several times since the company’s creation. Alfredo Manevy was president from 2015 to 2016, Mauricio Andrade Ramos from 2017 to 2019, Laís Bodanzky from 2019 to 2021, and Viviane Ferreira from 2021 onward according to the cited Wikipedia reference. Across these phases, Spcine has remained focused on using public resources and institutions to improve São Paulo’s audiovisual infrastructure, attract productions, support creative businesses, and expand public access to film and related media.

• 2021

  Film Commission platform is rebranded

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  The São Paulo Film Commission launches a redesigned registration and access platform for audiovisual companies and professionals.

• 2021

  City of São Paulo Film Attraction Program launches

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  Spcine introduces a cash-rebate-based program intended to attract audiovisual productions to São Paulo.

• 2020

  Spcine Game is created

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  The organization expands into digital games through an incubation program.

• 2017

  Spcine Play launches

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  Spcine introduces its public streaming platform in partnership with O2 Filmes and Hacklab.

• 2016

  São Paulo Film Commission activities join Spcine

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  Spcine begins encompassing the city film commission’s work, including applications for authorizations to film in public spaces.

• 2016

  Circuito Spcine is created

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  The public movie-theater circuit is established to widen access to film exhibition in São Paulo.

• 2015

  Spcine is founded

  [1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  The Municipality of São Paulo establishes Spcine as a public company focused on developing the city’s film, television, games, and new-media industries.

A municipal public-sector platform for audiovisual industry development, cultural access, production facilitation, and creative-economy policy in São Paulo.

• Film permitting and production facilitation · 2016

  São Paulo Film Commission

  Spcine’s film-commission function supports productions seeking to work in São Paulo. It receives applications for authorizations to film in public spaces and provides practical information for producers and other visitors. Its public-facing resources include guidance on filming in the city and a directory of São Paulo production companies that work with international markets.

• Public cinema exhibition · 2016

  Circuito Spcine

  Circuito Spcine is a network of public movie theaters created to broaden access to cinema in São Paulo. It forms part of Spcine’s cultural-access mission by providing public exhibition infrastructure alongside the organization’s production and digital-distribution activities.

• Public streaming · 2017

  Spcine Play

  Spcine Play is a public streaming service for films connected with festivals, cultural events, and institutional partnerships. Developed with O2 Filmes and Hacklab, the platform has presented Brazilian and international selections. A special free-access period from December 2020 to January 2021 offered 320 titles.

• Digital-game incubation · 2020

  Spcine Game

  Spcine Game is an incubator for digital-game projects. Its creation extended Spcine’s public-industry mandate from cinema and television into games and other interactive forms of audiovisual production.

• Production incentive · 2021

  City of São Paulo Film Attraction Program

  This program uses cash rebates to attract audiovisual productions to São Paulo. It was presented in the reference material as Brazil’s first audiovisual production-attraction program of its kind.

• 2021

  Launch of the City of São Paulo Film Attraction ProgramStrategy

  Background

  Spcine aimed to strengthen São Paulo’s attractiveness as a location for domestic and international audiovisual production.

  Action taken

  The organization introduced a cash-rebate program for audiovisual productions choosing São Paulo.

  Aftermath

  The initiative added production attraction to Spcine’s existing work in permitting, infrastructure, exhibition, streaming, and industry support.

  Source

• 2020

  Expansion into digital gamesStrategy

  Background

  Interactive media and games had become part of the broader audiovisual and creative-industry landscape.

  Action taken

  Spcine created Spcine Game as an incubator for digital-game development.

  Aftermath

  Spcine’s remit expanded beyond film and television to include game-related creative production.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch of Spcine PlayProduct launch

  Background

  Spcine sought to extend public support for audiovisual culture from physical exhibition into online distribution.

  Action taken

  The organization launched a public streaming service developed with O2 Filmes and Hacklab.

  Aftermath

  The platform hosted programming connected with film festivals and cultural partners, including a temporary free catalog of 320 titles during late 2020 and early 2021.

  Source

• 2021

  Spcine launches redesigned São Paulo audiovisual-industry registration platform[1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The São Paulo Film Commission introduced a rebranded platform for registering and accessing companies and professionals serving the city’s audiovisual industry.

• 2021

  São Paulo launches audiovisual production attraction program[1]Spcineen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Spcine launched the City of São Paulo Film Attraction Program, described in the reference material as Brazil’s first audiovisual production-attraction initiative based on cash rebates.

1. 1Spcineen.wikipedia.org