Macumbaria (2026)

Historian Luiz Antônio Simas narrates an exploration of the "macumba complex" — the intertwined spiritual traditions of Amerindian, African, and European Catholic origin that shape Brazilian identity. Through visits to terreiros, favelas, samba circles, soccer fields, and Carnival parades, the film traces how these practices, once marginalized, became central to the country’s cultural fabric.

Director Lucio Branco blends contemporary footage with archival material, letting Simas’s analysis frame the visuals. The documentary moves across geographic and social spaces, arguing that the macumba complex is not merely religious but a foundational civilizing force in Brazil.