“I was very much inspired by observing moments from my parents’ lives”: André Novais Olivera on If I Were Alive at Berlin Film Festival 2026

Director André Novais Olivera joined us at the Berlin Film Festival 2026 to discuss his poignant film, If I Were Alive. Olivera revealed that the film’s narrative stems directly from the passing of his mother in 2018, with his own father courageously taking the lead role to portray a lifetime of love and grief. He explains, “I was very much inspired by observing moments from my parents’ lives over the years,” weaving intimate details and real dialogue into the story of Gilberto and Josira’s enduring 50-year relationship. Olivera masterfully blends personal memory, collective history, and fantasy in reconstructing 1970s Contagem, creating a deeply affecting exploration of love, loss, and the intertwining of fiction and reality.