Opening of the cultural programme of LAC Days 2025 dedicated to Brazil

18. 4. 2025

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

The cultural programme of the 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Days opened with a screening of the acclaimed Brazilian documentary The Salt of the Earth (Sal de Terra), which chronicles the life and work of world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. The event took place at the Slovenian Cinematheque and was organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the embassies of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Vodnik Homestead and the Konzorcij Bookstore.

Woman in front of a movie screen, talking — Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Mateja Norčič Štamcar | Author Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

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The Slovenian Cinematheque hosted the opening of the cultural programme of the Latin American and Caribbean Days (LAC Days 2025), organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in cooperation with the embassies of LAC countries, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Vodnik Homestead and the Konzorcij Bookstore.

Yesterday's opening event of the LAC Days 2025 cultural programme, held in cooperation with the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Slovenian Cinematheque, was dedicated to Brazil. Attendees were addressed by the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Mateja Norčič Štamcar, and the Ambassador of Brazil to Slovenia, Maria Izabel Vieira. Both speakers emphasised the importance of intensifying contacts and cooperation between Slovenia and Brazil, and promoting greater awareness among the Slovenian public of the cultures, societies and challenges of the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The addresses were followed by a screening of the award-winning Brazilian documentary The Salt of the Earth, directed by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. The film offers a powerful portrayal of Sebastião Salgado's four-decade career documenting crisis hotspots around the world, marked by war, famine and displacement, and his later shift towards environmentally focused photography and a reforestation project in his native Brazil. After the screening, Prof. Dr Sarival Sosič delivered a presentation entitled Some Thoughts on Sebastião Salgado's Photography. The evening concluded with a reception organised by the Embassy of Brazil in Ljubljana.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has organised the LAC Days international conference since 2018. The event is aimed at strengthening Slovenia's cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries, while also addressing key global issues.

This year's edition of LAC Days will run from April to November, featuring a series of cultural events showcasing documentary films and literature from Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as discussions and panels on environmental issues and the role of women in society. Cultural and other separate events will be held throughout the year, exploring opportunities for Slovenia to cooperate with countries in the region in the fields of science, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the economy.