Body of Brazilian filmmaker flown to Sao Paulo

The mortal remains of Brazilian film director Oscar Marlon Filho, who passed away at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, was flown to his native Sao Paulo this morning.

Officials said the body was flown by Qatar Airways at 4.50am from Dabolim airport to Sao Paulo in Brazil from where it would be taken by road to his home town Rio de Janeiro.

The 56-year-old filmmaker had suffered a massive cardiac arrest at a IFFI venue in Panjai on November 27 while participating in the Open Forum on Football films.

The director was in Goa to present his film Mario Filho: The Creator of Crowds.

His body was preserved at the mortuary in Goa Medical College and Hospital near Panaji after autopsy. The post-mortem conducted by a team of forensic doctors led by Dr Silvano Sapeco had certified that he died due to cardiac arrest.

Luis Henrique Severiano Rebeiro Baez, chief executive officer of Atlantida Cinematografica, who accompanied him took the mortal remains back to the country.

Filho's body was dressed in an Indian Sherwani for the final journey.

"Baez, who is a close friend of the deceased director, has purchased this Indian outfit as a mark of respect," sources close to the director said.

The director was working for Atlantida Cinematografica, the country's biggest film production house and had made short films like Bye Bye Romano, Pele, O Papa Da Bola and Pele E O Gol Mil.