The biopic of the two legendary Brazilian basketball players is one of the first major projects from Brazilian production banner Trema, launched by Gabriel Mascaro and Paula Cosenza
Spain-based Begin Again Films secured an international sales deal for “Paula & Hortência – The Last Chance.’ The film, directed by Georgia Guerra-Peixe Joca, is a biopic on the life of the two titular legends of Brazilian women’s basketball.
The film will star Tainá Müller (“Good Morning, Verônica”) and Juliana Didone (“Maybe a Love Story”) as the two players, the two greatest icons of Brazilian women’s basketball, and protagonists of a series of major wins and a historic feud. Together, the two ushered the sport into a new era of popularity and recognition, having led Brazil to a world championship in Australia in 1994 and a silver medal in the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996.
Inspired by events leading up to the 1996 Games, the film follows the moment when Hortência, a new mother who had already retired from basketball, is called back to the Brazilian national team. Told through Paula’s perspective, the story delves into the relationship between the two athletes, exploring the challenges, disagreements, and partnership that helped shape one of the most successful eras in Brazilian sports.
“The Last Chance” is directed by Joca and written by Patricia Corso. Café Royal produces alongside Trema and U.S.-based Belladonna. The film is one of the first major projects at Trema, the newly founded banner from “The Last Trail” director Gabriel Mascaro and veteran producer Paula Cosenza. The biopic is slated for release in the second half of 2027.
The director called the film “a feminine, delicate, and intimate biopic that touches upon current themes, such as maternity, rivalry, empathy, and sorority.”
“I chose a hybrid language, where fiction is in direct dialogue with archive,” continued Joca. In this sense, I can pay homage to the final moments of Paula and Hortência playing together at the 1996 Olympics, when they were bidding farewell from the courts as a duo. It is a film that makes us root for the Olympic medal, to laugh, be moved and, above all, believe in the potency of female relationships. I am thrilled to be directing a film that, beyond telling the story of two extraordinary women, invites us to reflect on such present issues.”
“We fell in love with the project from the very beginning,” said Gloria Bretones, co-CEO and head of international sales and acquisitions at Begin Again Films. “It has a distinctive voice, a strong cinematic identity, and that special combination of emotion and originality we always look for at Begin Again Films. Sports stories, and basketball in particular, also connect with many of the values we believe in: passion, effort, teamwork, and resilience. We are very excited to bring this film to international audiences.
Adriana Tavares, partner at Café Royal, said Paula and Hortência are “absolute legends of Brazilian sports.” “Telling their story is a way of immortalizing their legacy. Partnering with Begin Again Films fills us with pride, as it allows us to bring this powerful narrative beyond our borders. It connects global audiences with the triumph, grit, and passion of these incredible women, while showcasing the power of Brazilian cinema.”
Cosenza echoes that thought, stating how director Joca has “this incredible ability to tell Brazilian stories in a very particular poetic way that arouses interest all over the world.:
“We are thrilled to see this talent recognized by Begin Again Films, who are joining the team to sell the film internationally, helping it to reach audiences beyond our borders,” continued the producer. “It also confirms this incredible moment for Brazilian cinema, supported by consistent public policies that allow us to have our work present at all major festivals and markets.”