So, I’ve just returned from my trip Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 12th International Vegan Festival with no jetlag, sunburns, or hangovers. May sound like a pretty uneventful trip, but I had a great time! The purpose for attending the festival was to show my short film “Vegan Love” along with a little speech about my approach to vegan advocacy with filmmaking.
I did have great Portuguese subtitles for the film with the help of Beatriz Medina from the SVB (the Brazilian vegan association). However, as the concept and humor in my film are very English in nature, I was a bit concerned about how the film would be received with the language and culture gap.
To my surprise, most of the audience laughed in the right parts and many even came up to me afterwards to tell me how much they enjoyed the film. The icing on the vegan cake was when someone told me that watching the film had reinforced their vegan lifestyle by being able to associate with the
main character. In hindsight, I would say that the trip had also reinforced my passion and drive for vegan advocacy by seeing firsthand how large the movement is becoming around the world.
It was a very uplifting moment to see that my film was having a positive impact
with vegans on the otherside of the planet. I have taken that positive momentum with me and am now back in the US and back at work on developing my feature length film.
In all, I had a wonderful time in Brazil and was astonished by the warmth and openness of so many different people in Rio, vegan and non-vegan alike. I am already thinking of how and when I can return.
Other tidbits:
If you are ever in Rio and want to try some great raw vegan food, I highly recommend Universo Organico. The raw lasagna is amazing.
Also, there were two people that I was supposed to send a copy of the film to in Brazil. If you are reading this blog, can you please forward your address to me again and I will send along a copy. Your address was lost in my journey back to the US.
At long last, I present to you Vegan Love… »« What’s Next?
