The awards for the 23rd Festival do Rio were announced and presented during a ceremony at Sala 1 of Estação NET Botafogo on Sunday, 19 December 2021. 

Première Brasil – Redentor Trophy – 2021

Jury: Patrícia Andrade (president), Bia Salgado, Gustavo Pizzi, Quito Ribeiro and Suzana Pires

Best Fiction Feature: Medusa, by Anita Rocha da Silveira

Best Documentary: Rolê – Histórias dos rolezinhos, by Vladimir Seixas

Best Short: Solitude, by Tami Martins and Aron Miranda

Special Jury Prize: Medida provisória, by Lázaro Ramos

Best Director – Feature Fiction: Anita Rocha da Silveira, for Medusa; and Laís Bodanzky, for A viagem de Pedro

Best Director – Documentary:  Murilo Salles, for Uma baía

Best Actress: Tati Villela, for Mundo novo

Best Actor: Rômulo Braga, for Sol

Best Supporting Actress: Lara Tremouroux, for Medusa

Best Supporting Actor: Sergio Laurentino, for A viagem de Pedro

Best Screenwriting: Alvaro Campos and cast, for Mundo novo

Best Editing: Eva Randolph, for Uma baía

Best Cinematography: Ivo Lopes Araújo, for Casa vazia

Première Brasil – New Directions (Novos Rumos) 2021

Jury: Emílio Domingos (president), Alice Furtado and Mariana Genescá

Best Film: Rio Doce, by Fellipe Fernandes

Special Jury Prize: for actress Renata Carvalho, for Os primeiros soldados

Special Jury Prize (Honorary Mention): O dia da posse, by Allan Ribeiro

Best Short: Chão de fábrica, by Nina Kopko