Pipas
(Kites)
Dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández
Screening
November 8th
2:30 p.m.
Milagro Cinemas - Theater 7
Synopsis
Duvo has lived all of his 25 years in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. His young life has been complicated, marked by the inherent violence of the gangs he’s been involved with. But his world is also a magical one — a world where you can speak with your guardian angel, where your guardian angel not only looks out for you but uses their experience to counsel. Duvo’s guardian angel is Phil, a young man not unlike Duvo, who was a victim of police violence. As Phil sees Duvo’s sincere desire for peace, change and redemption from his crime filled past, an opportunity arises when a community kite festival in the favela is cancelled and Duvo steps up to revive the event. Redemption is on the horizon for Duvo — as is his understanding of himself and the world around him.
Sinopsis
Duvo ha vivido sus 25 años en las favelas de Río de Janeiro. Su joven vida ha sido complicada, marcada por la violencia de las pandillas con las que se ha involucrado. Pero él habita un mundo mágico donde se puede hablar con los ángeles guardianes, quienes proveen cuidado y usan su propia experiencia para brindar consejo. Phil, el ángel guardián de Duvo, fue víctima de violencia policial. Phil observa en Duvo un deseo sincero de paz, cambio y redención por sus crímenes pasados. Una oportunidad se vislumbra cuando el festival de papalotes de la comunidad es cancelado y Duvo se propone a reavivar el evento. La redención es posible para Duvo, tanto como la comprensión de sí mismo y el mundo que lo rodea.
Cast:
Daniel Fernando do Prado Dorea Lima, Phillipe Augusto da Silva Souza, Thiago Oliveira, Derik Dos Santos, Matheus Dos Santos, Luiz da Silva Pereira, Miguel Santos da Costa, Larissa Borges, Brena Rubia Martins Azevedo, Mariana Carvalho, Mariana De Oliveira, Jacqueline Adelaide do Prado Dorea Lima, João Vittor Pedroza, Alex Gomes, Alexandre Rodrigues, Roberta Dos Santos, Renato, Diogo Santos
Screenplay:
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Producers:
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Cinematography:
Michael Fernandez
Production Designer:
Marcelle Fernandes Ferreira
Editing:
Jack Hessler
Music / Socore:
Malcolm Parson
Sound:
Cesar Pezzi
Director's Bio
Walter began his career as a multimedia journalist for the New York Times for four years from 2018-2022. In 2022, Walter wrote and directed the short film If I Go Will They Miss Me which was awarded the Sundance Festival U.S. Fiction Short Film Category. He recently developed the feature length adaptation with the support of the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Labs. In 2022, he was honored as one of 25 new faces of film by Filmmaker Magazine. A year later, he was acknowledged as one of the 2023 five storytellers to watch by Variety Magazine. Walter’s documentary feature, Netflix’s Untold sports doc feature film he directed about the Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton gun locker room story aired in April 2025. He is currently in post-production for another feature, If I Go Will They Miss Me.
Walter inició su carrera como periodista multimedia para el New York Times durante cuatro años (2018-2022). Escribió y dirigió el cortometraje If I Go Will They Miss Me, premiado en la categoría de Cortometraje de Ficción en el Festival de Sundance. Recientemente desarrolló una adaptación a largometraje con el apoyo del Laboratorio de Guionistas y Directores de Sundance. En 2022 fue reconocido como uno de los 25 nuevos rostros del cine por Filmmaker Magazine. Un año después obtuvo el reconocimiento coomo uno de los cinco cineastas a seguir en 2023 por Variety Magazine. Dirigió un largometraje documental para la serie de Netflix Al decubierto basado en la historia de Gilbert Arenas y Javaris Crittenton, estrenado en abril de 2025. Actualmente posproduce su largometraje If I Go Will They Miss Me.
