"Prelude to an Announced Death" (5', 1991) is the artist's final work, completed shortly before his demise. It is one of the rare moments in which França's work in video assumes a quasi-documentary character. Set against a dramatic rendition of "La Traviata" by Brazilian singer Bidu Sayão, the artist's body touches that of his partner, Geraldo Rivello, as the names of all their friends killed by AIDS scroll across the screen above them.

Prelude to War was the first film of Frank Capra's Why We Fight propaganda film series, commissioned by the Pentagon and George C. Marshall. It was made to convince American troops of the necessity of combating the Axis Powers during World War II. This film examines the differences between democratic and fascist states.