Luiz Carlos Barreto dies at age 98 The death of filmmaker Luiz Carlos Barreto, known as Barretão, at age 98, provoked expressions of grief among artists, family and friends this Wednesday (22). Considered one of the biggest names in the history of Brazilian cinema, he died while hospitalized at Copa Star Hospital, in Copacabana, in the South Zone of Rio. The cause of death has not yet been announced. In an interview with GloboNews, actor Matheus Nachtergaele paid tribute to Barretão. Moved, he highlighted the importance of the filmmaker for the history of Brazilian cinema and for his own artistic trajectory. "I'm very sad, still under the impact of the news, but also understanding that Luiz Carlos' life was a full one and that he is perhaps the greatest promoter of Brazilian cinema of all time," he said. "The history of our cinema would not be the same without Luiz Carlos. Mine, certainly not. Even before doing television, when I was doing theater, I was invited by Bruno Barreto, Luiz Carlos' son, to play a big and important character in the film O Que É Isso, Companheiro?, one of the first great films of the revival of Brazilian cinema in the 1990s. Without their trust, I might not have been part of this great family", added the actor. A reference in Cinema Novo, Luiz Carlos Barreto marked generations as producer of 'Vidas Secas' and 'Terra em Transe'. Journalist Simone Zuccolotto also lamented the loss on social media. "Luiz Carlos Barreto is Brazilian cinema. His struggle, his cinema, his life, his smell. The person who taught me so much. The cinema family that welcomed me. What immense sadness ?? all my affection to the Barreto family", he wrote. Simone Zuccolotto pays tribute to Barretão Reproduction/Instagram Barretão's grandson, musician Gabriel Barreto, also paid tribute on social media. In a publication on X, he highlighted the importance of his grandfather for the family and the country. "Somehow I thought you would outlive us all. I woke up to the news that my grandfather Luiz Carlos Barreto passed away at the age of 98. He was a giant for our family and for Brazil. He was a polar star for me. My God, grandpa, I miss you so much", he published in A member of Cinema Novo, a movement that marked cinematographic production in the 1960s with works of a strong social and political nature, he helped transform Brazilian cinema. In addition to working as a producer and filmmaker, he graduated in Literature and also worked as a journalist and photojournalist throughout his career. Check out the trajectory of producer Luiz Carlos Barreto