Flavio Alves

Flavio Pimenta Alves (born in Rio de Janeiro, 30 November 1969) is a Brazilian writer, screenwriter, and film director resident in America since 1998. His movies consistently feature elderly characters as protagonists.[1] He is best known for the film The Garden Left Behind starring Michael Madsen, Ed Asner and Carlie Guevara.[2][3]

Flavio Alves
Flavio Alves at Outfest 2019
Born
Flavio Pimenta Alves

(1969-11-30) November 30, 1969
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CitizenshipBrazil
United States
EducationColumbia University
New York University
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, screenwriter
Years active2007-present
Notable workThe Garden Left Behind
Websitehttp://www.FlavioAlves.com

Early years

Alves was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and served the Brazilian navy for several years before coming to America in 1997. He was granted political asylum in the United States in 1998 based on political opinion and sexual orientation after he wrote the book, Toque de Silêncio ("Call to Silence", 1997), describing his life as a gay man in the Brazilian navy.[4] His request was granted because, according to Alves, he received death threats upon publishing his book. Although various human rights organizations, LGBT activists, and former São Paulo mayor Marta Suplicy supported his claim, it has also divided the Brazilian gay community.[5] He attended Columbia University in New York City, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science in 2007.[6] In the early 2000s he worked as an assistant for then-Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and then-New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY).[7]

Career

In 2007, Alves left politics and enrolled at New York University to study film production. While there he wrote and directed, Even in My Dreams, which received the Technisphere Award from NYU for best student film, and was screened at a variety of film festivals around the world. The film was also the winner of the Golden Palm Award at the 2009 Mexico International Film Festival, and the Golden Ace Award at the 2009 Las Vegas International Film Festival.[8][9] In June 2010, Flavio released his short film The Secret Friend, starring Viola Harris and Siobhan Fallon in the major roles.[10][11] The film received multiple awards and nominations after its premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2010, where it was chosen as Best of the Fest.[1][12][13] Alves also directed the award-winning short film, Tom in America (2014), starring Academy Award nominees, Burt Young and Sally Kirkland, has been screened at over 140 film festivals worldwide, and was also featured on the cable network Here TV.[14]

Flavio's most recent film, The Garden Left Behind, is his first feature-length project and stars Michael Madsen and Ed Asner.[15][16] The film was well received in the media, and was widely praised for having a strong trans representation in front of and behind the camera, including the lead, Carlie Guevara.[17][18] The Garden Left Behind premiered at SXSW Film Festival in 2019, where it won the Audience Award.[19][20] Caryn James/The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It’s one thing to decide to make a movie about the struggles of the transgender community and violent attacks on it. But it’s far harder to turn that message into a film as natural and graceful as The Garden Left Behind. Directed by Flavio Alves, a producer making his first feature, this is a clear-eyed, poignant yet unsentimental drama about Tina, a trans woman and undocumented Mexican living in New York."[21] Randy Myers/San Jose Mercury News raved: "The Garden Left Behind" will break your heart; a film of utter grace, poignancy and deep understanding."[22] And Rotten Tomatoes listed The Garden Left Behind as No. 39 in their 200 Best LGBTQ Movies of All Time editorial and stated the Critics Consensus was: "The Garden Left Behind draws on one immigrant's journey to offer graceful, thought-provoking commentary on timely sociopolitical themes."[23]

In 2018, Alves was selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center to the Artist Academy. The program is designed to support the next generation of filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds as they develop their careers and build audiences within the film community. [24]

In 2019, Flavio was selected to Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative Directing Program, aimed at creating equal opportunities for minorities behind the camera.[25]

And, in 2020, The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) honored Alves with the Best Latinx Director Award for his debut feature The Garden Left Behind.[26][27][28]

In 2022, Alves announced that he and his production company relocated to Florida to research and produce his new film.[29]

Ebay campaign

While in pre-production for his upcoming film, The Garden Left Behind, Alves and his team pioneered the use of eBay as a crowdfunding platform, where they raised more than $100,000.[30] The unprecedented success experienced during this campaign revamped typical crowdfunding methods. The film became the first independent film to be funded substantially through donations and sales via eBay.[31][32][33]

Personal life

Flavio lives in The Villages. In April 2010, Alves became a US citizen. As of 2013, he has been a member of the National Board of Review. In 2012, Grupo Gay da Bahia, the oldest LGBTQ advocacy association in Brazil, awarded Alves, among 21 other militants, an honorary title recognizing his sacrifices and contributions to the LGBTQ community.[34][35]

Filmography
Flavio Alves at Cleveland International Film Festival, March 29, 2019.
Year Title Director Producer Screenwriter Notes
2019 The Garden Left Behind Yes No Yes Feature film
2014 Tom in America Yes Yes No Short film
2013 Only Solomon Lee No Yes No Short film
2012 Art Machine No Yes No Feature film
2012 The Perfect Wedding No Yes No Feature film
2011 Odysseus' Gambit No Yes No Short documentary
2010 The Secret Friend Yes Yes Yes Short film
2010 The Position No Yes No Short film
2008 Even in My Dreams Yes Yes Yes

Accolades

References
  1. Canfield, Sean (September 4, 2011), "The Secret Friend – Film Review", The Daily Rotation, retrieved 2012-01-13
  2. "The Garden Left Behind". SXSW 2019 Schedule. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  3. "Brief: 'The Garden Left Behind' Film Review, SXSW 2019 by Caryn James". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  4. Desroches, Steve (June 25, 2002), "The long road to safety", The Advocate, retrieved 2008-12-10
  5. Brasil, Sandra (May 5, 2004), País com parada gay não é homofóbico, Veja, archived from the original on 2008-05-11, retrieved 2008-12-12
  6. "Owl Magazine | 2016–2017". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  7. Invictus, Fixx (March 21, 2009), "Flavio Alves: Provocative Film maker and ex political asylum detainee", Scallywag & Vagabond, retrieved 2012-01-13
  8. Grace, Toby (September 24, 2008), Movie Review – Even in My Dreams, Out in Jersey, retrieved 2008-12-12
  9. New York University Online Interview with Flavio Alves, NYU-SCPS Filmmaking Intensive Alum Scores Success at Film Festivals Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, December 18, 2008, via New York University.com
  10. IMDB List of Cast and Crew
  11. Hall, Phil (January 12, 2011). "The Secret Friend". Film Threat. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  12. Propes, Richard (June 2011), "The Secret Friend – Film Review", The Independent Critic, retrieved 2012-01-13
  13. Official site, Screenings & Awards page, January 13, 2012
  14. Official site, Screenings & Awards page, August 15, 2016
  15. "Crafting Stories with Filmmaker Flavio Alves – interview by Madeleine Cutrona – NYFA Current". 22 April 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  16. IMDB List of Cast and Crew
  17. "Brief: "The Garden Left Behind" Bears Witness to Anti-Trans Violence by Sarah Marloff". Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  18. "SXSW 2019: The Garden Left Behind by Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies". 10 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  19. "Brief: "The 2019 SXSW Film Festival Announces Audience Award Winners" by Neha Aziz". Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  20. "Brief: "SXSW Audience Awards Show Love for 'Running With Beto' and 'Peanut Butter Falcon'" by Peter Debruge". 16 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  21. "'The Garden Left Behind': Film Review | SXSW 2019 by Caryn James". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  22. "Streaming movie picks: 'Garden Left Behind' breaks ground and hearts by Randy Myers". 26 August 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  23. "200 Best LGBTQ Movies of All Time". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  24. "NYFF56 Artist and Critics Academies Announced". filmlinc.org. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  25. "2019 Directing Mentorship Participants". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  26. "'Pose' and 'Mucho Mucho Amor' Win Top Prizes at the Latino Media Fest Awards (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin". 16 October 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  27. "Variety Drops the Full List of Latino Media Fest Winners: 'Pose' and 'Mucho Mucho Amor' Win Top Prizes at the Latino Media Fest Awards (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  28. "NALIP's Latino Media Fest Awards MUCHO MUCHO AMOR and THE GARDEN LEFT BEHIND". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  29. "Big screen spotlight to shine on Homosassa in new film". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  30. O'Falt, Chris (14 August 2018). "Solange Saves the Day: Indie Filmmakers Break Down Their Approaches to Engaging Audiences in Unexpected Places". indiewire.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  31. O'Falt, Chris (14 August 2018). "Solange Saves the Day: Indie Filmmakers Break Down Their Approaches to Engaging Audiences in Unexpected Places". indiewire.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  32. "Brief: Independent Feature Film "The Garden Left Behind" Uses ebay to Crowdfund Production by Samantha Hurst – Crowdfund Insider". 5 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  33. "Brief: One Man's Junk is Another's Movie crowdfunding Campaign – Right This Minute – The Viral Videos Show=03 August 2016".
  34. Coutinho, Genilson (28 February 2013). "Grupo Gay da Bahia celebra 33 anos de luta e concede títulos honorários a militantes brasileiros e estrangeiros". doistercos.com.br. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  35. Wang, Holly (15 December 2017). "Interview With Flavio Alves: the 90s Brazilian LGBTIQ Rights Activist Turned Filmmaker". outrightinternational.org. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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