Sunday marked the start of Rio de Janeiro’s renowned Carnival samba parades, with many spectators watching events in Hollywood where Brazil might win its first Oscar.
The prospect of Brazil winning the Academy Awards with “I’m Still Here” created an extra sense of joy among the Carnival celebrations as the samba schools got ready to showcase their abilities.
The film, which was directed by Walter Salles, chronicles the disappearance of former lawmaker Ruben Paiva in 1971 and the acts of his widow Eunice during the 1964–1985 military dictatorship in the nation.
“I’m Still Here” earned nominations for best picture, best foreign film and best lead actress for Fernanda Torres, who already won a Golden Globe award for her performance.
Oscars buzz can be found all over the streets of Rio, as billboards and posters touting support for Torres display alongside revelers dressed up as her in the Carnival parades, with some dedicated entirely to the actress.
“There is no better day than a Carnival Sunday to win the Oscar,” Rebecca Maria Darakjian Batoni, a 25-year-old celebrant in the northeast city of Olinda, told AFP.
Among the crowds at Carnival, many attendees wielded plastic golden statuettes sold by street vendors.
“Fernanda is an example, an idol for all of Brazil, and today we’re all going to stop to see her win the Oscar!” said Cristina Leite de Moraes, a 25-year-old doctor.
According to Torres, 59, she was “very proud” that her picture was all over the streets.
The top twelve samba schools will compete in a new three-day format, rather than the customary two-day one, from Sunday to Tuesday at Rio’s enormous Sambadrome.
Under the new arrangement, each group will have an additional 80 minutes to showcase their thousands of musicians and dancers on the legendary catwalk in front of 70,000 spectators and millions of television viewers worldwide.
With projections for the event coming close to $1 billion, officials suggested that the euphoria around the Oscars victory might help boost the economic activity created by Carnival celebrations.
