Filho, 56, was participating in an open forum discussion here  when he collapsed. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, but failed to recover, the organisers said.

A filmmaker and journalist from Rio de Janeiro, Filho had a lively exchange with the media on Saturday. He was in a discussion with delegates and others in the film festival courtyard when he suddenly collapsed before the stunned crowd.

Filho’s film “Mario Filho: The Creator of Crowds” was showing in the festival as part of the soccer films package. His other films include “Bye Bye Romario,” “Pele” and “O Papa da Bola.”