Documentary Film About Surfing and Survival
In FAVELA BREAKS (currently in pre-production) we follow Michael and his group of teenage surfing friends around Morro do Cantagalo, one of Rio's 700 shantytowns and stronghold of ubiquitous drug gang Comando Vermelho (Red Command). We go surfing together. We join them at Rio's frenetic funk balls inside the slums. And we even dodge a few bullets along the way.

Many of Michael's friends have succumbed to the temptations of joining the drug trade. Tuta is one such kid - he's chosen a gun over a surfboard. His new life as a drug lord is a far cry from the days when he used to ride the pointbreak waves of Arpoador Beach. Though he still gets in the water, the police and rival gangs keep him busy most of the time.

According to Michael, Tuta's days are probably numbered. He's seen it all before. Since 1987 an astounding 4,000 children have been killed in Rio's drugs war. Many kids die before they're old enough to finish school or even buy beer.

Will the rest of the gang make it?
Welcome to FAVELA BREAKS.