Trakinagem Project Teaches Filmmaking to Youth in Uberlândia

The Trakinagem project in Uberlândia, Brazil, is teaching children and adolescents from the periphery how to produce short films. Founded by Cristiano Barbosa after his master's degree in France, the initiative transforms the spontaneous audiovisual content production of the younger generation into a structured learning process. Participants, numbering over 150, are involved in every stage of creation, including scriptwriting, production, and editing. The short films, which range from three to six minutes, address critical social and environmental themes such as water preservation, feminism, and racial awareness. In 2025 alone, 12 films were produced. The project aims to foster critical thinking and is shared publicly on social media and in schools to reach a wider audience.

The Trakinagem project was established in Uberlândia by Cristiano Barbosa. The initiative originated during Barbosa's master's degree studies in France, where he observed that children were often the protagonists in film creation. Upon concluding his specialization, he chose to bring this European proposal to his hometown. The project was born out of a desire to channel the natural inclination of the current generation to produce audiovisual content into a structured educational framework.

Barbosa explains that the decision to work with children and adolescents stems from the fact that this generation produces a significant amount of audiovisual content. The project aims to transform this spontaneous production into a comprehensive learning experience about the entire creative process. In a society that communicates primarily through video, the project acknowledges that young people consume and produce vast amounts of content for various platforms. The goal is to provide them with a deep understanding of filmmaking.

Participants in Trakinagem are involved in every step of the filmmaking process. This includes defining the script, organizing the production, and filming the short movies. The project emphasizes that the children are not just actors but active creators. During meetings held before filming begins, the group discusses topics related to daily life and society. After these discussions, the young participants choose a theme and begin producing and recording the short film.

The process is guided by a director, but the youth assume responsibility for the creation. The productions typically vary from three to six minutes in length. Over 150 children have participated in the productions to date. The project's philosophy is to ensure that the young filmmakers live the entire process of creating films, from the initial idea to the final materialization.

According to the idealizer of the project, the specific quote regarding the creative stages is: “Queremos que eles vivam o processo de criação dos filmes. Roteiro, produção, edição e materialização da ideia. Eles são convidados a participar de todas as etapas”.

The short films produced by Trakinagem tackle the reality of society and demonstrate how cinema can be an effective tool for promoting various forms of learning. The topics covered are diverse and socially relevant, including:

• Desigualdade (Inequality)
• Fome (Hunger)
• Feminismo (Feminism)
• Consciência negra (Black consciousness)
• Preservação da água (Water preservation)

Specific film titles reflect these themes, such as "Asa Branca: Não adianta só rezar. Conservar a água também depende de nós" and "Cabelo, cabeleira, cabeludo, descabelada: o bonito é a diferença". The objective is for the young filmmakers to develop a critical vision regarding the chosen themes and the audiovisual medium itself. Cristiano Barbosa states that the project seeks to reach more people, serving as a tool for education, creation, and experimentation. He notes that it helps people look at cinema with more criticism.

In 2025, a total of 12 films were produced under the Trakinagem project. These short films are primarily distributed in public schools, allowing parents, family members, and residents of the neighborhoods to watch the productions and follow the work of the young participants. Additionally, the films are available on the project's official YouTube channel and Instagram (@trakinagemcine). The 2025 productions include:

• ASA BRANCA (CCAU) – 5min50seg
• QUEIMADAS (ADVÉM) – 4min10seg
• GOTA D’ÁGUA (Estação Vida) – 4min20seg
• AREIA (Ticote) – 5min30seg
• CABELO (ADVÉM) – 4min10seg
• ALIMENTO (CCAU) – 4min10seg
• JOGO JUSTO (Estação Vida) – 5min05seg
• RESPEITO É BOM (Ticote) – 6min
• SEMENTE (Missão Esperança) – 5min05seg
• SEBASTIÃO (Missão Esperança) – 4min21seg
• A REVOLTA DAS LIXEIRAS (Comunidade Vida) – 5min
• CURTO-CIRCUITO (Comunidade Vida) – 4min35seg