Marco Dutra’s ‘Bury Your Dead’ Secured by M-Appeal for Sitges Competition

The elevated genre film Bury Your Dead has been acquired by the Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal, with its world premiere set for the competition section at the Sitges Film Festival. The film is directed by Brazilian filmmaker Marco Dutra.

Dutra’s past works include All the Dead Ones, which debuted at Berlinale in 2020, and the werewolf tale Good Manners, co-directed with Juliana Rojas, which won the Silver Leopard at Locarno in 2017. Their first horror collaboration, Hard Labor, was shown at Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2011.

Following its premiere at Sitges, Bury Your Dead will be screened at the BFI London Film Festival, with more fall festival appearances to be announced soon.

The plot centers on Edgar Wilson, a roadkill collector in rural Brazil, who longs to escape his life with his love, Nete. However, when Nete joins an apocalyptic cult, Edgar is left at a crossroads. Teaming up with Tomás, a disgraced priest, they set off on a perilous journey across a crumbling world, where Edgar must face his inner turmoil and come to terms with his past.

“This ambitious apocalyptic thriller, rich in twists and high production value, will appeal to both genre fans and mainstream audiences,” said Maren Kroymann, managing director of M-Appeal. “Marco Dutra’s bold storytelling makes this a standout title for buyers.”

Produced by RT Features and Globoplay, the film is part of a slate that includes Call Me by Your Name, Bergman Island, Armageddon Time, and Ad Astra. Globoplay, a leading Brazilian streaming platform, has recently expanded into theatrical feature production.

The cast is led by Brazilian star Selton Mello, whose recent film I’m Still Here, directed by Walter Salles, premiered in competition at Venice, with both RT Features and Globoplay also involved in its production. Bury Your Dead is based on Ana Paula Maia’s 2019 novel. Maia is renowned for her dark depictions of working-class life in Brazil.

“I suggested Ana Paula Maia’s novel to Marco, sensing a deep connection between her writing and his vision,” said producer Rodrigo Teixeira of RT Features. “With Selton Mello’s exceptional performance and Marco’s script, Edgar Wilson comes to life in a way that will linger with audiences long after the film ends.”

Alex Medeiros, head of drama and film at Globoplay, praised Dutra, saying, “Marco has revolutionized the horror and fantasy genres, and Bury Your Dead is his most surprising work yet.”