Small town Brazil said 'fuck it, we're voguing anyway.'
A documentary exploring the vibrant ballroom scene in Viçosa, Minas Gerais. Through the lives of local performers, it highlights how queer, trans, and non-binary communities create spaces of self-expression, creativity, and resilience. The film captures the energy of balls, the art of voguing, and the deep sense of community, while also examining the challenges participants face in a society that often marginalizes them. By documenting this unique subculture, the film celebrates LGBTQ+ identity, pride, and the transformative power of performance in shaping belonging and visibility.
Direction
Stela Maris lets subjects breathe, never perform for camera.
Cinematography
Ballrooms glow; rural Brazil aches. Gorgeous contrast.
Production
Intimate access that took genuine community trust.
Director
Stela Maris
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Brazilian ballroom ('balls') emerged separately from NYC vogue culture, creating unique regional houses like Permission that blend local funk carioca rhythms with traditional categories. SPOILER-FREE.
Viçosa's university town status creates this fascinating tension — educated liberal bubbles surrounded by deeply conservative agricultural communities, which the houses navigate daily. SPOILER-FREE.
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