Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Paes Wants Woody Allen to Film in His City

The 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games may not be the only high-profile “events” to take place in Rio de Janeiro… At least if Eduardo Paes has his way.

The 43-year-old Brazilian politician, the city’s mayor, has told Brazilian newspaper O Globo that he will pay “whatever it takes” to get Woody Allen to shoot there.

Eduardo Paes

Over the past several years, the noted director has crisscrossed the globe, making his movies in the U.S. and Europe. But Paes thinks Allen should come to Latin America for his next effort.

Paes further pledged, “I’ll pay 100% of the production.” He said he’s gone to great lengths to express his desire to Allen, including speaking with his sister, producer Letty Aronson, and getting a message to him via architect Santiago Calatrava.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil has made headlines recently for uprisings over, among other things, government spending on the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics.

But Paes said he would put up with expected criticisms from locals for handing over “the millions” that would be required to film an Allen movie in Rio.