Brazil. With a manifesto narrated by Juliana Paes, Netflix inaugurated in São Paulo the first edition of Hecho Aquí - Nace en Brasil. Travel the World, an event that celebrates its partnership with the audiovisual industry and announces new Brazilian stories that will go into production starting in 2026.
"Each story created here carries the value of our culture, the strength of our creativity and the audacity of those who never stop dreaming. And when these stories travel, they bring to the world the best of who we are: original, diverse and resilient," said Juliana Paes.
On stage, Elisabetta Zenatti, VP of Content at Netflix in Brazil; Haná Vaisman, Leader of Fiction Series; Elisa Chalfon, Non-Fiction Leader; and Higia Ikeda, Film Leader, celebrated Netflix's recent Brazilian successes as the result of a long-term partnership with the country's audiovisual industry—composed of creators, producers, directors, and professionals present at the event.
"More than ten years ago, when we started producing in Brazil, we believed in the potential of stories made and told here. In 2025, we released several outstanding titles that, thanks to their success, also crossed borders. This is the result of the experimentation, determination and risks we took together, in a move that has driven the growth of the market," said Elisabetta.
To kick off the segment dedicated to Netflix's interaction with its members, actress Mel Maia took the stage, logged into her own live Netflix account, and demonstrated in practice how personalized recommendations help power our stories around the world. Mel also highlighted Netflix's continued investment in dubbing and subtitling, and captivated audiences with iconic scenes from the fictional series The Game Owners in other languages — including the unmistakable Rio accent dubbed into Italian and Turkish.
What's coming in 2026
Along with great talents in the industry, Netflix announced the next two series and two films that will go into production during the first quarter of 2026, in addition to a new 100% Brazilian reality show that has just finished filming.
Author Ray Tavares and showrunner Carol Durão announced Valentina's 12 Signs, an adaptation of Ray's book of the same name. Ray, who previously worked as a screenwriter on Back to 15, now leads the script alongside Bia Crespo. Produced by Boutique Filmes, the series challenged the creative team to explore new ways to connect with young audiences by telling the story of Valentina, who – after being deceived and discovering that the breakup was due to an alleged astrological incompatibility – decides to turn revenge into a method: dating men from each zodiac sign and recounting their encounters in a videocast. The series is produced by Tiago Mello.
Creator and screenwriter Cláudio Paiva revealed that he has just received the green light for As Crianças Estão de Volta (working title), a comedy designed to bring the whole family together, marking another collaboration with artistic director Maurício Farias. Originally created by Patrícia Leme, the series follows a couple who, after moving to Paraty to enjoy life, see their dreams and plans thwarted when their adult children return home. Luiz Noronha, from A Fábrica, also spoke about the attention that production is putting into ensuring a connection between generations.
New films are born from two books. Creator, writer and executive producer Raphael Montes and director Esmir Filho presented Estranha na Cama, an adaptation of Raphael's upcoming novel of the same name, developed by Casa Montes and produced by A Fábrica. This thrilling thriller follows a couple in crisis who decide to open up their relationship in an attempt to save their marriage. They invite a third woman to join their dynamic, but things don't go according to plan.
The film is a daring and sensual thriller that reinterprets the genre through a Brazilian vision. Another highlight was the announcement that The Pilgrim, produced by Gullane and adapted from the bestseller of the same name, will be directed by Vicente Amorim, who plans to add a touch of magical realism to this road movie. In a video message, the director shared that he had recently been in Geneva, Switzerland, for a special meeting with Paulo Coelho.
Licenses
In addition to its original productions, Netflix highlighted the importance of licensing Brazilian films, both new and classic, as a way to celebrate local culture, expand access to these works in Brazil and around the world, and support the preservation of the country's audiovisual heritage. In 2025 alone, Netflix acquired the rights to 55 Brazilian titles. For 2026, confirmed releases include The Blue Trail, which will arrive on Netflix at the beginning of the year, and Bacurau, available on the platform from next Saturday, December 13.
Tribute
The event also featured an exhibition of behind-the-scenes footage from productions that premiered in 2025. Panels dedicated to each title highlighted creative and production details, as well as audience reach in Brazil and globally, celebrating the international projection of these stories. Creators, directors, producers and industry professionals relived memorable moments from their collaborations with Netflix and learned more about the impact of each work.
"A solid and vibrant audiovisual ecosystem generates a virtuous circle that boosts the economy and inspires new cultural expressions," Elisabetta said. "Today, Netflix celebrates its partnerships and renews its commitment to expanding opportunities for Brazilian audiovisual production: a creative ecosystem that has evolved and that today dialogues on equal terms with the rest of the world. We are very proud of what we have built together and of everything that is yet to come from what is created here."
