Rio Mayor offers to fund Woody Allen's next movie

The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro has offered to fund Woody Allen's next movie if the filmmaker shoots it in his city.

Eduardo Paes is so desperate to get the director to Brazil that he will cover Allen's production costs if he agrees to film there.

He tells O Globo, "I really want him to come! I did everything. I've talked to his sister, I've sent him a plane ticket through (architect Santiago) Calatrava, his neighbor in New York, and I would pay anything for him to come shoot here... I would pay for 100 per cent of the production."

Movie investment company RioFilme have been trying to lure Allen to the city for many years, ever since the filmmaker abandoned his beloved New York to make films in Europe, like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and To Rome With Love.