THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY
Petra Costa
THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY (2019)
“The Edge of Democracy”, a Brazilian documentary directed by Oscar-nominee Petra Costa, delves into the complex truth behind the unraveling of two Brazilian presidencies. The film examines the rise and fall of Presidents Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, set against the backdrop of Brazil’s socio-political crisis in 2014. It premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and was later released on Netflix. Later in the same year, it was also screened at MoMA in a session hosted by filmmaker Spike Lee, who praised it and said that it "gives us another look at fascism, which is not only here, but is global". The documentary received critical acclaim, addressing global themes of polarization, political violence, and the ascent of fascism to power. It was nominated for the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Feature Film Documentary in 2020 and won a Peabody and Platino Award for the same category in the same year.
Written and Directed by: Petra Costa
Executive Producers: Maxyne Franklin, Josh Braun
Produced by: Shane Boris, Tiago Pavan, Petra Costa
Co-Producers: Sara Dosa, Mariana Oliva
International Press and Media Advisor: Marcus Vinicius Ribeiro
PUBLISHED MEDIA
VOX READ THE ARTICLE
THE NEW YORKER READ THE ARTICLE
THE GUARDIAN READ THE ARTICLE
THE NEW YORK TIMES READ THE ARTICLE
PETRA COSTA - Director
About the Director:
Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Petra Costa is a Brazilian filmmaker and actress. Petra Costa has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2018. Before her Oscar-nominated feature documentary “The Edge of Democracy” (2019), she directed three other award-winning films: “Undertow Eyes” (2009), “Elena” (2012), and “Olmo and the Seagull” (2014). She went to the Dramatic Arts School at the University of São Paulo and pursued undergraduate studies in Anthropology at Barnard College, Columbia University. She completed her master’s degree in social psychology at the London School of Economics, focusing on the concept of trauma. Petra Costa’s films bridge the personal and the political, leaving an indelible mark on the world of cinema.