We Want More Than Money

“A glimpse into how public cultural policies shape everyday life.”

​​The film begins with the implementation of the Paulo Gustavo Law in São Manuel, a town of 40,000 residents in the countryside of São Paulo, to open a broader conversation: what happens when public funding reaches the cultural sector? And why is there still so much resistance to that? Through interviews with funded artists, cultural managers, policymakers, and spontaneous conversations with local residents, the film reveals a reality that goes beyond the borders of a single town, drawing a wider picture of the relationship between art, public policy, and everyday life. The documentary features historian Célio Turino, creator of the Pontos de Cultura program, and congresswoman Jandira Feghali, rapporteur of the Aldir Blanc Law. The screenplay is co-written by Turino and director bagadefente.

Directed by bagadefente