Realness InstituteExecutive Director
Jan. 2019Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaBrazilian born Producer Elias Ribeiro has worked internationally since 1999. A resident in South Africa for over a decade, he launched Urucu, a production company dedicated to making thought- provoking content in 2011, from an unapologetic African point of view. Urucu’s films have won awards from Sundance to BFI London, Durban, Rio and Beijing. They have sold worldwide to theatrical distributors, broadcasters and SVOD platforms. His projects have attracted financing from private equity to regional and national funding bodies as well as tax incentives globally. In 2015 Ribeiro co-founded Realness African Screenwriters Residency, an incubator that has developed over 30 audiovisual projects in over 16 countries in Africa to date. It evolved into the Realness Institute, now housing 6 capacity building programs in the creative industry, the Institution caters to writers, producers, directors, and most recently in partnership with Netflix, episodic content creators and development executives. He served a jury member for film funds like Hubert Bals, festivals like FESPACO and as a mentor in multiple labs and markets across the globe, from Cinemart, European Film Market to Locarno Open Doors and beyond. His most successful film, INXEBA was shortlisted for an Oscar after winning 6 SAFTAS and 29 international awards. His latest production stemming out of Realness scooped a Visionary Filmmaking Award at Sundance 2020. He is often a speaker and moderator in Industry events and helmed in 2018 the Cape Town International Film Market & Industry Program. Elias was recently appointed by the Locarno Film Festival as a regional manager of the Southern Africa Industry Academy. He is an advisory board member to screenworlds.org and ladima.africa. Ribeiro consults to various film related businesses, festivals and public bodies in Africa and the world.