Brazil’s Fernanda Torres, Oscar-nominated for her stirring efficiency in Walter Salles’ 2025 worldwide characteristic Academy Award winner “I’m Still Here,” is becoming a member of four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things,” “Platoon”) in Bárbara Paz’s upcoming feature, “Cuddle.”
Set in a near-future metropolis the place intimacy is purchased and bought, “Cuddle” follows Dante (Dafoe), an expert cuddler paid to supply heat, consolation and human connection to strangers.
His solitary life is upended when he meets Ava (Torres), an immigrant girl whose quiet power and deep empathy awaken one thing lengthy buried in them each. Their unlikely connection turns into a lifeline — and an opportunity at transformation, a shifting reminder that even the smallest act of affection can change a life perpetually.
Described as a dystopian character-driven drama, it’s the newest pic from the “I’m Still Here” co-producer, auteur-driven Brazilian powerhouse Conspiração. Set in opposition to the backdrop of up to date contact remedy tradition and concrete alienation, “Cuddle” goals to replicate on humanity’s need for closeness, that means and affection in a fragmented fashionable world.
BP Produções, Buena Vista Worldwide, Walter and João Moreira Salles’ VideoFilmes, Infinity Hill and TV Globo have boarded as co-producers.
“To join Bárbara Paz, Willem Dafoe and Fernanda Torres in bringing to life a film about the joy and necessity of human connection in today’s world is a tremendous honor for us. We truly believe ‘Cuddle’ will resonate deeply and powerfully with audiences everywhere,” stated producer Renata Brandão, CEO of Conspiração Filmes, who has been attending the Cannes Film Festival.
Torres additionally received a 2025 Golden Globe for her efficiency in “I’m Still Here.” “Cuddle” reunites Dafoe and Paz following their collaboration on “My Hindu Friend,” Hector Babenco’s semi-autobiographical swan song, through which Dafoe portrayed a filmmaker carefully impressed by Babenco himself, whereas Paz, Babenco’s real-life spouse and muse, appeared in a key supporting function.
Dafoe was an affiliate producer of the documentary “Babenco: Tell Me When I Die” (2019), which Paz directed as an ode to her late husband and which represented Brazil on the 93rd Academy Awards. It additionally snagged one of the best documentary award within the Venice Classics sidebar of the 76th Venice Movie Pageant.
“Cuddle” is produced by Brandão and Juliana Capelini for Conspiração Filmes alongside Paz (BP Prods.), Axel Kuschevatzky and Cindy Teperman for Infinity Hill (“Argentina, 1985”) and Maria Carlota Bruno of VideoFilmes, with Phin Glynn and Delfina Montecchia government producing.
