brazilian cinema has been evolving with more homegrown productions obtaining global success, and more local actors and directors attaining worldwide recognition.

born in rio, in 1967, josé padilha is one of brazil's most exciting new directors - bursting onto the scene in 2002, with bus 174, padilha has now made his way over to hollywood, after recently being given a budget of us$130 million to direct the new robocop film.

another hollywood heavyweight, hailing from rio, is rodrigo santoro - establishing himself as one of hollywood's heartthrobs, santoro has starred in a host of blockbuster films, including, most recently, 300: rise of an empire.