Audiovisual Entities Demand Budget Review for Spcine

Nineteen audiovisual organizations, including Abraccine, the Brazilian Association of Film Critics, and Sindcine, have signed a letter requesting a budget review for Spcine, the company responsible for fostering cinema in São Paulo. The entities alert that there has been a decline in the actual utilization of funds for the sector in recent years. According to Spcine data, budget liquidation was 63 percent in 2023, dropped to 12 percent the following year, and rose to 38 percent in 2025. For the current year, R$ 16.9 million has been liquidated, which represents 31 percent of resources.

The Secretariat of Culture stated that this percentage reflects a partial execution of an ongoing cycle and does not mean resources are lost. The department reports that R$ 55.2 million is allocated for Spcine, consisting of R$ 11 million from the department, R$ 13 million as a municipal counterpart to the Audiovisual Sectoral Fund, and R$ 11.7 million from the Municipal Secretariat of Education, plus R$ 26.8 million in federal resources.

Anonymous employees expressed concerns that the Secretariat is attempting to silence Spcine president Anna Paula Montini and that a dismantling of the company is underway. These employees also criticized the inaction of Totó Parente, the current Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy under Mayor Ricardo Nunes. Representatives of the signing organizations claim the city is inflating investment perceptions to mask this dismantling. Mauro D'Addio, president of the São Paulo Association of Filmmakers, stated that confusing numbers make investment seem larger than it is and that money does not reach workers.

The city's Pluriannual Plan for 2026 to 2029 predicts a 95 percent reduction in cinema and audiovisual expenses, falling from R$ 42.2 million to R$ 2 million. In response, the entities are requesting that the Spcine budget be increased to R$ 170 million next year, arguing that São Paulo allocates the lowest proportional volume of resources among capitals. Spcine was created in 2015 to manage public theaters, finance projects, facilitate filming, and attract international productions.