Hugo Vieira da Silva's Body Rice [trailer] will have its world premiere in the international competition section of the upcoming Locarno International Film Festival (August 2-12). The film will not only compete for the Golden Leopard but also for the First Film Award, whose jury is made up of Argentinean director Lisandro Alonso, German producer Christian Baute and Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues (Odete [trailer, making of]).
Starring Sylta Fee Wegmann, Julika Jenkins, Alice Dwyer, André Hennicke, Pedro Hestnes and Luís Guerra, Body Rice tells the story of Katrin, a young delinquent from Germany, sent to Portugal on a social inclusion programme. Surrounded by a desert landscape and oppressed by a sense of unease, she will nevertheless develop a special relationship with a German girl (Julia) and a Portuguese boy (Pedro).

Produced by Paulo Branco's Lisbon-based production outfit Clap Filmes and sold internationally by Madragoa Filmes, Body Rice is the debut feature by 32 year-old Vieira da Silva, known locally for his documentary on three prominent Portuguese contemporary artists (Arte Pública) and for a documentary on a 1970's artistic movement (Grupo Puzzle).