This edition of Barretos had a special taste for Filipe Masetti Leite, the Knight of the Americas. Filipe was invited to launch his new documentary, which bears his name in the title, during the party, with the trailer shown on the big screens of the arena during all the days of the event.

And the emotions didn’t stop there. He rode into the city mall to shop and even got access to the party arena. A lot of emotion for a single edition!

Leite has already returned to Canada for personal engagements, but before that, she took some time in her diary to tell us about this edition of the party. Check:

Cavalus Portal: What was it like walking into a mall on horseback and still shopping?

Knight of the Americas: It was a great show! It was the second time I entered the mall on horseback, when I launched my first book “Cavaleiro das Américas”, also at the Barretos mall, I entered on horseback, and this time it did not couldn’t be different. The man who crossed the Americas on horseback, releases a documentary about it, was to arrive at the mounted mall. It was really cool, a super soft horse, I went to buy a basic white t-shirt, in front of, I don’t know, 40, 50 people around me taking photos, at the mall, filming and we had several influencers there, media people, it was very cool. My family, the Independents, it was an unforgettable evening!

Cavalus Portal: How was the film released?

Knight of the Americas: The release of the film was a total success! We had about 200 people there, more or less, several friends, Rodeo personalities, people who are part of the Os Indépendantes club, my fiancée Clara was there, my mother, my father, my little sister, several friends… it was a dream ! We have already released this documentary in Canada, in the United States, in Europe, in India, and now being able to release it in Brazil, in my country, has been a feeling of accomplishment, a lot of emotion and a lot of happiness.

Cavalus Portal: Is there already an entry date in the national theaters?

Knight of the Americas: The film was released in my hometown, Espírito Santo do Pinhal, inside SP, and now we have it released in Barretos (SP), we will show it until August 31, at Norte Shopping Barretos, then at the end of September, beginning of October, it arrives in several cities of Brazil.

Cavalus Portal: You are writing a third book, can you tell us about it?

Knight of the Americas: The third book is ready, it will be released here in Canada first, now in October or November, and before Christmas it will arrive in Brazil.

I talk about my last trip from Alaska to Calgary, where I closed the Americas, that was what was missing, I had done Canada – Brazil, Brazil – Ushuaia, the extreme south of the continent and now I did this last part from Alaska to Calgary, Canada, where I started my first trip.

It was a very exciting trip, with many challenges, I was crossing with three grizzlies a day, the highest mountains in Canada, I was cold minus 15 degrees, snow, but this time I had Clara with me, – my fiancée I met her on my second trip, she is from Argentina, from Patagonia -, she was with me, with a support car, so it was great to have her with me. When I finished the trip, I asked her to marry me.

I was still an ambassador for the Calgary Stampede, the first Latino to be an ambassador for Canada’s biggest rodeo, and I still received the keys to the city from the mayor when I got there.

Cavalus Portal: Will we have a new trip?

Knight of the Americas: For now, without travel, now we are going to start filming a film next year, on my first book, on the journey from Canada to Brazil, this film will be with actresses and actors, and it will be released in 2024.

I’m super happy, we have several stars participating in the film. The director is Canadian and it will be a Canada/Brazil co-production.

Cavalus Portal: How was the launch in your home town, Espírito Santo do Pinhal (SP)?

Knight of the Americas: The release of the film in my city was very special, I had my 95 year old grandmother watching the film, it was one of the happiest and most magical moments of my life. All my family, my friends, the comment I heard the most was ‘I held you when you were a baby!’ (Laughs).

The launch took place in a very nice 1920s theater, more than 300 people from the city there, watching, the mayor of the city was there, people from Culture, Tourism, it was very cool, I got a standing ovation, like in Barretos too. There were a lot of people crying…

The film was very moving, very inspiring. I’m sure when it comes to other cities, to the rest of the country, people will love it too.

Cavalus Portal: How was it to be at Barretos again? Does the emotion change?

Knight of the Americas: Ah, Barretos is Barretos, there is no equal energy, emotion! Every time I get there I feel emotional, it’s a moment to see great friends that I only see in Barretos, because everyone goes to the party from all over the country.

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay till the end, was it, because I had to go back to Canada, we had a launch here in the east of the country, now Sunday, but it was great !

Barretão came back strong, it will be a historic Barretos, I also made a partnership between Canada and Brazil, Barretos and Calgary, this year for the first time I managed to do that, the first two classified, the 2021 Barretos champion and runner-up, riding Touros, they had a chance to go to Calgary this year, ride there, and now the top two from Calgary have the opportunity to ride Barretos this year, c It’s a partnership that I made with Jerominho and with Marcelo Murta.

I’m very happy to unite these two rodeos and with that, Barretos had a special taste this year, in addition to launching the documentary, having my trailer on the big screen every night, I had the opportunity to enter the arena too, to participate in the rodeo, anyway, Barretos is Barretos and I am very happy that he is back in force and that he is a historic Barretos!

By: Camila Pedroso

Photos: Personal Archives

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