Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva

Dr Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva was born to a large farming family in southern Brazil, where she learned to appreciate the mysteries of nature, something that continues to animate her work and research with children. She has a doctorate in anthropology, and her ethnographic research examines how children are protagonists of narratives and performances. After years as a university lecturer, she moved into the non-profit sector and now she is Executive Director of Usina da Imaginação, coordinating community programmes. She has directed many films, including The Other Side of the Other (2019), Wuitina Numiá (2021) and Aiurê (in post-production). Mother of Helena Iara, Rita lives in Florianópolis, Brazil.