'Don't call a Czech waiter amigo': How to be Brazilian in Prague

Prague’s international film scene is getting a dose of Brazilian sunshine this week. The Kino Brasil Movie Festival, now in its 12th year, is hosting a special double screening at Bio Oko on March 22. The event brings Central do Brasil by Walter Salles to Prague screens, followed by a chance to catch this year’s Oscar winner for Best International Feature, I’m Still Here—both with English subtitles.

The festival isn’t just about movies. For Prague’s Brazilian community, it’s a chance to connect over films that reflect their culture and experiences. We spoke with Carolina Fernandes, a language teacher based in Prague for six years and a member of Kino Brasil's organizing team, about what the festival means to the community. She also offered tips for where to connect with Brazilian culture in Czechia all year round.

There are over a thousand Brazilians currently registered in the Czech Republic—a surprisingly small number, especially compared to our neighbor, Germany, which has over 100,000 Brazilians. However, I believe this is gradually changing, and the Czech Republic is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Brazilian immigrants.

A surprising link between the two countries? The Bat’a-villes in Brazil! The famous Czech footwear company Bat’a expanded internationally in the 1940s, opening factories overseas. As part of this expansion, several villages were founded in Brazil by Jan Antonín Baťa, who later settled there permanently until his passing.

And perhaps the most remarkable connection of all? Former Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek, who served from 1956 to 1961 and was responsible for creating our modernist capital, Brasília. Kubitschek had Czech roots through his mother—his great-grandfather, Jan Nepomuk Kubíček, was one of the first Czech immigrants to move to Brazil in the 19th century.

Kino Brasil [held in the autumn] has become a go-to cultural event for many film lovers and fans of Brazilian culture. What started as a small, two-day showcase of Brazilian cinema—something you don’t often come across in regular screenings—has grown into a much-anticipated festival. With its mission to show Brazil in all its diversity, Kino Brasil draws in a wide audience and adds a splash of Brazilian flavor to Prague’s cultural scene.

Since its first edition in 2014, the festival has brought 72 feature films and 8 short films to our audience. But it’s no longer just about movies—it’s about experiencing Brazil with all your senses. Over the years, it has expanded into a four-day film event, accompanied by concerts, dance workshops, talks, film discussions, Brazilian-themed parties, coffee and food tastings, exhibitions, and more. In recent years, Kino Brasil has also started organizing summer screenings and other cultural events.

As Portuguese speakers, learning Czech is no picnic. One major difficulty is the distinction between formal and informal speech (vykání and tykání in Czech). Unlike many languages, Brazilian Portuguese doesn’t have this strict divide—you can casually call a waiter ‘amigo’ (friend) without a second thought. But in Czechia, I quickly learned (after a few awkward glances) that switching to a more casual tone requires permission, even with co-workers and classmates.

In Brazil, we like to joke that there are only two seasons: hot and hotter. So when I first arrived in Czechia, I was excited to finally experience all four seasons—until winter came. Brazilian culture is deeply tied to the outdoors, even influencing our architecture.

It’s still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that most restaurants and bars here remove their outdoor seating in the colder months and that farmer’s markets vanish until spring. And then there’s the snow. Six years later, I still haven’t mastered the art of walking on ice without slipping!

Coming from South America, I sometimes feel like Brazil and the Czech Republic are opposites in every way imaginable—the weather, the people, the food—everything seems to sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. But with time and persistence, you learn to navigate and embrace these differences.

There are fewer options than I’d like, of course, but a lot more variety than when I first arrived here six years ago. Back then, if you were craving Brazilian cuisine, you had to splurge on Brasileiro. Needless to say, an all-you-can-eat buffet certainly does the trick when it comes to satisfying cravings, but sometimes all you want is simply some casual dining or a quick, fulfilling snack—not a two-hour feast.

Luckily, a couple more venues have popped up over time, and you can now taste some typical dishes at Manifesto Market or Delícia Brazil right off Karlovo náměstí. Not to mention a few accomplished caterers like Luiza from brazilian_snaks or Bruno from brunoscraft, who always deliver tasty homemade treats in times of need.

As for Brazilian culture, in addition to the Kino Brasil festival, expats and Brazilians alike can enjoy the concerts of Devanil dos Santos (devanilsantossamek), who plays in Prague on a weekly basis. The more adventurous can also practice their dance moves or enjoy the vibes at an authentic samba party at rodadesambaevents. Brno residents are even luckier, as the city holds its annual Brasil Fest [July 31-Aug. 3] and takes over the streets every summer.