Production Company

MERCÚRIO PRODUÇÕES

Mercúrio Produções LTDA, a film production company founded in 2001 by Helena Ignez, Djin Sganzerla and Sinai Sganzerla, is responsible for the entire cinematographic work of filmmaker Rogério Sganzerla, with approximately thirty movies under its belt. Mercurio’s features include, amongst others: The Red Light Bandit (O Bandido da Luz Vermelha) (1968); Light in Darkness: The Return of the Red Light Bandit (Luz Nas Trevas: A Volta do Bandido da Luz Vermelha) (2012) featuring Ney Matogrosso in the leading role and sole Latin American feature film to take part in Switzerland’s Locarno International Film Festival, winner of the Critics’ Choice for Best Feature, Copacabana Mon Amour (1970, restored by Mercúrio Produções in 2013 through Petrobras funding); The Woman With Her Own Light (A Mulher da Luz Própria) (2019) screened at 41º Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano en La Habana – Cuba and others festivals in Brazil; Fakir (2019) award as Best Feature Film by the Popular Jury at Cinefantasy – International fantastic film festival and screened in others festivals in Brazil; The Dismantling of the Mount (O Desmonte do Monte) (2018) screened at the 31º Cinélatino, Rencontres de Toulouse in France, being the only Brazilian documentary in the competition; My Calendar Girl (A Moça do Calendário) (2017), Audience’s Choice for Best Feature, and Best Actor in the 21º Festival Luso Brasileiro in Portugal, among other awards; the TV series production VAN BORA! funded by Mercedes Benz and FSA/FINEP; Ralé – The Lower Depths (Ralé) (2015), Best Director at Mix Brasil Festival; The Sign of Chaos (O Signo do Caos) (2005), Best Director at Brasilia Film Festival, among other award-winning films.


The film The Red Light Bandit, directed by Rogério Sganzerla, is considered a classic of Brazilian cinematography, rated by New Zealander Wellington Film Society as one of the best films in the 20th century. It has been continually screened in countless international exhibitions and festivals across Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as in important museums such as London’s Tate Modern and New York’s MOMA. UNESCO has nominated this film as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The film production company has also restored the feature film in 2008.