SO, WHAT THE HELL IS RHIZA?
We’re glad you asked, very talented guy or gal or non-binary friend who is now an official Rhizer. Our name “Rhiza” stems from the word rhizome. For the uneducated in botany (fools! ), a rhizome is a specialized, horizontally growing underground stem from which new roots and shoots emerge to form new plants. As a philosophical concept (yes, we’re going there), a rhizome represents interconnectedness, decentralization, and an open, flexible structure, allowing any element to connect to each other. But in cooler and more artsy words, think of our business model as just that: highly collaborative (aka filmmaker-driven), open to disruptive models and innovation, and in constant transformation.
As business partners (read: work wives), we also refer to ourselves as “two bodies, one mind” – not because we’re swingers, but because we share a brain even though we’re an Equatorial line away from each other. It’s a testament to our similar instincts but also to our witchy coven powers, depending on who you ask. So what does this all mean? Honestly, Rhiza sounds nice and rolls off the tongue, so let us be.
BUT, WHO THE FUCK ARE WE?
Great question! Thanks for asking. Understanding who we are, where we come from, and why we want to tell stories to audiences is key in understanding what we’re all about.
We are Claudia Chakmati and Gabriela Matarazzo. We both grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. Born and raised. And as young women in this industry, we’ve learned through time that, wherever we find ourselves in the world, there is limited to no exposure to media outside of the US mainstream. That’s the media that we all grow up consuming. As kids, watching movies from outside the US was an exception to the rule, and we want to change that for future generations. We want young people to grow up with what we didn’t have: elevated stories that travel across borders, languages, identities — but still hit close to home.
Ultimately, we want Rhiza to be the home for prestige local language, multi-cultural films that move the needle in sparking meaningful conversations with those who come together to appreciate it, placing an emphasis on supporting the filmmaker behind these stories.
So, congrats, you’ve made it to the end of our spiel! As a reward, we won’t bore you with our individual accomplishments and credits because… who cares? We’re busy making movies!
