Ipoti-Catu, the Garden of German Immigration
SHORT FILM
GENRE: PARTICIPATORY DOCUMENTARY
Director: Ruimara Stein
Co-Director: Dehner Guth
Production: Ruimara Stein Produções
Co-Production: Valkyria Filmes
Director of Photography: Dehner Guth
Editing: Dehner Guth
Sound Design: Jey Heidt
Screenplay: Henri Figueiredo
Soundtrack: Creative Commons
Technical Specifications:
Capture Format: Digital 4K
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Color: Color
Duration: 19’22”
Completion Date: July 8, 2024
Sound: Stereo
Interviewees:
Cristiano de Brum (historian)
Roque Amadeu Kreutz (researcher and professor)
Evandro Weber (entrepreneur, Weber Haus)
Júnior Tiago Ben (director, Instituto Ivoti)
Matheus Schlickmann (student and resident in Germany)
Moira Weber (student)
Suelen Backes (communications manager, Grupo Dass)
Vanessa Graeff (biologist and teacher, APAE)
Cast:
Bibiana Haubert (German actress)
Gabriel Stengel (German actor)
Sueli Khey Kaingang (Kaingang actress)
Vilmara da Silva (Kaingang actress)
Support: Paulo Gustavo Law, MINC, City Hall of Ivoti, and private supporters
Support for the international premiere in Germany (2025): PNAB • Ministry of Culture of Brazil • local supporters and partners in Germany.
What is Ipoti-Catu?
Embark on a journey through time and discover “Ivoti, the Garden of German Immigration” and its 200 Years of History and Legacy in Rio Grande do Sul. The documentary reveals how the arrival of the first German immigrants transformed a locality, intertwining its history with Indigenous and Portuguese cultures to create a unique cultural and socioeconomic identity in Brazil. A story that proves migration is, at its core, the history of humanity in constant movement.
SYNOPSIS
What is Ipoti-Catu? Find out in “Ivoti, the Garden of German Immigration | 200 Years of History and Legacy”, a journey through time across Rio Grande do Sul. This documentary reveals how the arrival of the first Germans, together with Indigenous and Portuguese cultures, shaped a unique cultural identity in Brazil. A testament to the idea that migration is the story of humanity in constant motion.
TRIVIA / BEHIND THE SCENES:
The inspiration for this documentary came from a personal revelation experienced by the director during an Ayahuasca ceremony: the need to leave a legacy for the welcoming city of Ivoti. The filmmaker made a point of sensitively addressing people with disabilities (PWDs) as well as Indigenous peoples in the screenplay, honoring inclusion in the audiovisual work.
Filming began in April 2024 but was interrupted by the devastating floods that struck Rio Grande do Sul. In response to this moment, the director chose to incorporate powerful images of the reconstruction in São Leopoldo, drawing a parallel with the hardships faced by the first German immigrants upon arriving in the region in 1824. The film thus becomes a celebration of 200 years of German immigration, echoing the spirit of resilience that defines the state’s history.
Available on the Sulflix streaming channel.
Available on YouTube.