NEW YORK CITY - Surreal Hotel Arts (www.surrealhotelarts.com), a São Paulo, Brazil-based creative production company, has opened its first international headquarters in New York City, marking an expansion into the US market. The studio offers creative storytelling and production services for brands and agencies, specializing in commercials, branded content and entertainment.
Photo (L-R): Milena Trindade, Carlão Busato, Blake Farber, Cris Chacon & Felipe Rangel
Surreal Hotel Arts was founded in 2021 and is led by director Carlão Busato, alongside operations director Cris Chacon and executive director Milena Trindade. Since its founding, Surreal Hotel Arts has built a client portfolio that includes work for Coca-Cola, GM, GSK, Heinz, McDonald's, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Samsung, Unilever and Visa, among others.
“We believe in the power of stories that reflect the full diversity of the world,” says Busato, who served as chief creative officer. “Brazil has always embraced diversity and has never been afraid of boldness – in color, in sound, in feeling – and this is reflected in our creative mindset. Storytelling is part of our DNA, and that’s why New York – a city at the center of ambitious, culturally resonant storytelling – is the perfect place for us to bring our uniquely-Brazilian flavor to North America. It is a natural second home for us, and we hope to add a distinct voice to the conversations already happening here.”
The studio has also assembled a roster of award-winning directors, including Blake Farber, Brendo, Brenno Castro, Michael Zvegintsev, Lua Voigt and Oriol Barberà. Surreal Hotel Arts is not entering the US market from scratch. In 2022 the studio appointed Farber associate director for the US market. Line producer Felipe Rangel will also divide his time between the São Paulo and New York offices.
Alongside its advertising work, Surreal Hotel Arts is expanding into broader storytelling formats, developing original short- and long-form content for both Brazilian and global audiences. The studio currently has nine short films and four feature films set for release this year. To support this growth, Surreal Hotel Arts has partnered with Brazilian production studio Air+Atomo to deliver AI and VFX capabilities.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for us,” notes Trindade. “We have built a strong foundation, a loyal national and international client base, an exceptional team of directors and the ability to shoot anywhere. Brazil continues to offer extraordinary creative possibilities: a breathtaking range of locations, world-class talent, favorable shooting conditions and outstanding production value. Wherever we work in the world, we bring the same commitment to fusing creativity and innovation, and our success at Cannes Lions is proof of what that approach can achieve.”