Brazil’s ‘I’m Still Here’ Oscar Nominee Fernanda Torres Joins Willem Dafoe in Barbara Paz’s Dystopian Pic, ‘Cuddle’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Brazil’s Fernanda Torres, Oscar-nominated for her stirring performance in Walter Salles’ 2025 international feature Academy Award winner “I’m Still Here,” is joining four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things,” “Platoon”) in Bárbara Paz’s upcoming feature, “Cuddle.” 

Set in a near-future metropolis where intimacy is bought and sold, “Cuddle” follows Dante (Dafoe), a professional cuddler paid to provide warmth, comfort and human connection to strangers.

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His solitary life is upended when he meets Ava (Torres), an immigrant woman whose quiet strength and deep empathy awaken something long buried in them both. Their unlikely connection becomes a lifeline — and a chance at transformation, a moving reminder that even the smallest act of affection can change a life forever.

Described as a dystopian character-driven drama, it is the latest pic from the “I’m Still Here” co-producer, auteur-driven Brazilian powerhouse Conspiração. Set against the backdrop of contemporary touch therapy culture and urban alienation, “Cuddle” aims to reflect on humanity’s desire for closeness, meaning and affection in a fragmented modern world.

BP Produções, Buena Vista International, Walter and João Moreira Salles’ VideoFilmes, Infinity Hill and TV Globo have boarded as co-producers.

“To join Bárbara Paz, Willem Dafoe and Fernanda Torres in bringing to life a film about the joy and necessity of human connection in today’s world is a tremendous honor for us. We truly believe ‘Cuddle’ will resonate deeply and powerfully with audiences everywhere,” said producer Renata Brandão, CEO of Conspiração Filmes, who has been attending the Cannes Film Festival.

Torres also won a 2025 Golden Globe for her performance in “I’m Still Here.” “Cuddle” reunites Dafoe and Paz following their collaboration on “My Hindu Friend,” Hector Babenco’s semi-autobiographical swan song, in which Dafoe portrayed a filmmaker closely inspired by Babenco himself, while Paz, Babenco’s real-life wife and muse, appeared in a key supporting role.

Dafoe was an associate producer of the documentary “Babenco: Tell Me When I Die” (2019), which Paz directed as an ode to her late husband and which represented Brazil at the 93^rd Academy Awards. It also snagged the best documentary award in the Venice Classics sidebar of the 76th Venice Film Festival.

“Cuddle” is produced by Brandão and Juliana Capelini for Conspiração Filmes alongside Paz (BP Prods.), Axel Kuschevatzky and Cindy Teperman for Infinity Hill (“Argentina, 1985”) and Maria Carlota Bruno of VideoFilmes, with Phin Glynn and Delfina Montecchia executive producing.