We were lucky to catch up with Marcelo Pancote recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcelo, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Our mission at Zozo Films is to tell real, raw, and powerful stories, and that purpose is deeply rooted in our own. I’m Marcelo Pancote, a Brazilian immigrant, cinematographer, and co-founder of Zozo Films, alongside my wife Daniela Bacchim, our creative director and Executive Producer. Our company is named after our daughter, Zoey, we call her Zozô, who represents everything we fight for: truth, love, and legacy.

We left Brazil in 2014 with nothing but a dream. The journey was hard. We navigated immigration challenges, cultural shocks, financial instability, and even survived the darkest days of COVID together. But through all of it, we held onto the belief that our story, and the stories of people like us, deserved to be seen. I

We built Zozo Films from the ground up. Not with investors or privilege, but with grit, creativity, and an obsession with visual storytelling. We’ve produced films, music videos, and documentaries that amplify voices from the margins, explore complex human experiences, and elevate underrepresented talent. We want to make work that leaves a mark.

Our mission is personal. It’s about honoring our past, building something bold for our future, and showing our daughter what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself. We’re not just filmmakers. We’re dreamers, parents, immigrants, and builders of stories that matter.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a cinematographer based in Atlanta, with 17 years of experience telling stories through images. I started my journey back in Brazil with a camera in my hands and a lot of curiosity. Photography led me into the world of filmmaking, and over time, it became more than just a job.

I’ve been lucky to work on music videos, commercials, and films, and collaborate with amazing artists and brands along the way. But no matter the size of the project, I approach each one with the same heart, looking for truth, beauty, and meaning in every frame.

What matters most to me is creating work that feels honest and emotional. I’m always learning, always growing, and always grateful to be doing what I love.

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with some incredible artists across the music and entertainment industry, including legends like T-Pain, Missy Elliott, Ja Rule, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Neyo, J. Cole and Lil Baby, as well as newer voices like Jack Harlow, Chloe, Kaliii, Kenny Mason, and 21 Savage. Collaborating with talents like Future, 2 Chainz, Quavo, Gunna, Tory Lanez has pushed me creatively and taught me the value of adaptability and trust in the process. Each project, no matter the scale, has been an opportunity to grow, connect, and tell meaningful stories through visuals.

I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a wide range of commercial brands, from global names like Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, G-Shock, and Honda to lifestyle favorites like Trident, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, and Patagonia. I’ve also had the opportunity to work on meaningful campaigns with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, TED, and Wells Fargo. Whether it’s a sleek automotive spot, a heartfelt nonprofit message, or a playful product ad, I bring the same level of care and cinematic detail to every frame. Each project has helped shape my approach — blending storytelling with strong visuals to create work that resonates.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One moment that truly reflects our resilience was the journey of moving to another country, learning a new language, and starting a life from scratch without the support of nearby family. In the beginning, Daniela was cleaning houses, and I was working in construction. Eventually, we teamed up to clean houses together as a small business, which gave us the flexibility to create our own schedule. This way, we could control our time and fit in our filming projects. For example, we’d clean houses in the morning and then dive into video work in the afternoon. With just a camera and one lens, we started on this path that led us to where we are today, gradually building our passion for video production. It was never easy, leaving everything behind, adapting to a new culture, and building a life and career without a safety net but our persistence and hard work carried us through. Choosing this path was one of the toughest decisions we’ve ever made, but also one of the most rewarding, filled with growth and learning.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met Daniela in 2007, and from that moment on, it’s been a journey. We built our production company together and studied in a two-year photography program at an art school, which was a big commitment. I used to work for my dad, but when Daniela and I got together, we decided to start working for ourselves, building something of our own. Around that time, my dad told me that my uncle had a small boutique warehouse space. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. We turned it into two rooms, one for our desks and sofa area, where we set up our computers, and another for photo shoots, with a paper backdrop. That space became our creative playground, where we started turning ideas into real projects.

For five years, we ran our company in Brazil, creating content for major brands, TV commercials, and institutional videos. We were proud to earn approval from Ancine, which officially recognized our work and allowed it to be broadcast on Brazilian television, a big milestone for us at the time.

Eventually, though, things in Brazil became difficult. The energy around us started to shift. I was 23, Daniela was 24, and we felt like we needed a new challenge. So we made a bold decision: we sold everything, our gear, our apartment, all our furniture, and moved to the U.S. in January 2014 with the dream of learning English and chasing something bigger. It wasn’t easy, but we knew we had to take that leap. And from there, the rest of the story began to unfold.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zozofilms.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zozofilms
• Other: www.instagram.com/Marcelopancote
  www.instagram.com/Danielabacchim

Image Credits

ZOZO Films Archives