Special project · Media production

Festa de Nossa Senhora do Pilar

Every year, the parish of Nossa Senhora do Pilar in Brazil celebrates its patroness with a nine-night novena that builds to a festival day — processions, music, and a whole community in motion. It's a side of Brazilian culture most people outside the country never get to see.

I led the media coverage of this festival year after year: I shot footage myself and coordinated the volunteer team that captured the rest — planning, filming, and publishing all nine nights and the festival day, on a daily deadline, as part of six years running the parish's communications. The footage below is from the most recent edition.

Festival DayThe feast of Nossa Senhora do Pilar itself.
Opening of the FestivalThe abertura — the patroness festival begins.
The Volunteer TeamThe people behind the festival — the team I coordinated.
Novena — Day 1First evening of the nine-day novena.
Novena — Day 2Second evening of prayer and music.
Novena — Day 3The community gathers for the third night.
Novena — Day 4Fourth evening of the novena.
Novena — Day 5Halfway through the nine nights.
Novena — Day 6Sixth evening of celebration.
Novena — Day 7Seventh night of the novena.
Novena — Day 8The festival builds toward its close.
Novena — Day 9The final night of the novena.

Footage I shot and coordinated together with the parish volunteer media team, published on the channel I ran for six years: @paroquiadensradopilar.