International Competition
City of Lisbon Award for Best International Competition Film
A Date in Minsk, Nikita Lavretski
For its cinematographic concept, its contemporary thematic concerns, its authentic dialogues and performances, as well as its subtle interweaving of important political considerations, the jury unanimously awards A Date in Minsk, by Nikita Lavretski.
YouTube International Competition Jury Award
A Landscapes Area Too Quiet For Me, Alejandro Vasquez
For the great empathy and honesty with which it captures the day-to-day realities of extreme old age, and for its subtle and gradual evocation of the Franco years almost entirely within the confines of a single apartment, the jury awards A Landscaped Area Too Quiet for Me, directed by Alejandro Vázquez San Miguel.
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Portuguese and Short Film Competitions
HBO Max Award for Best Portuguese Competition Film (ex aequo)
The Visit and the Secret Garden, by Irene M. Borrego
Vexations, by Leonardo Mouramateus
This week we have seen many engaging, inventive films, often made with limited means but ambitious in their desire to depict a singular framing of the world, either its cruelty or its potential to become something else, something cinema could perhaps envision along with the world itself. The jury has decided to award this prize to two films that stood out concerning their form and the stories they tell. We notice that, while exploring the potential of cinema to make way for resilience and a renewed belief in life, art itself comes up in these films as a medium and as a subject, as a tool and as a task. The HBO Max Award for Best Portuguese Film goes to Vexations and The Visit and a Secret Garden.
Portuguese Authors Society – Portuguese Competition Jury Award
Calling Cabral, by Welket Bungué
A celebration of heritage, with undertones of both gravity and sweetness, that makes us realise how cinema is capable of performing not only ways of experience, but History itself, its standpoints and a common path that might lead us to delightful findings. The Portuguese Authors Society Portuguese Competition Jury Award goes to Calling Cabral.
Schools Award – ETIC Award for Best Portuguese Competition Film
The Visit and A Secret Garden, by Irene M. Borrego
It was somewhat difficult, but we are very happy to have reached a verdict. As we watched this film we all experienced different emotions, but one thing was certain: when we left the room, we were on edge. Isabel’s simple, yet intense words gave us the chills. We felt the despair of a niece who wanted to know more. And for 60 minutes we lived in a house that, despite not being the focus, we feel like we know rather well. The doors closing and the doors opening, the mirrored personality, the search for the self in the other, making peace with the past, the house, the portrait, the permanence and the resilience. The woman, the women. Those who were, those who are. Those who tried, fought and stayed. Even on the sidelines. Of course we also felt tremendous affection for Ramses. For this and 300 other reasons, we very much wish to hand this award to The Visit and a Secret Garden, by Irene M. Borrego.
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Cross-Sectional Competition
New Talent Award – TVCine Channels Award for Best First Feature-Length Film (over 60’) from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives and Cinema of Urgency
It’s Party Time, by Léo Liotard
For the delicate way in which the filmmaker looks at his subjects, the melancholic atmosphere of past memories and his sensitive approach to masculine friendships during the fragile formative years of transition from youth to adulthood, the award goes to It’s Party Time, by Léo Liotard.
Special Mention
Moto, by Gastón Sahajdacny
Through the strong connection between its main characters, this film takes us on a journey through a city affected by inequalities and police violence. The jury awards a special mention to Moto, by Gastón Sahajdacny.
Award for Best Short Film (up to 40’) from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives and Cinema of Urgency
May the Earth Become the Sky, by Ana Vîjdea
A beautifully filmed, and very subtly, thoughtfully edited piece about belief as raw material of the cinematic endeavour. The jury celebrates this film as the discovery of a solid filmmaking touch, hoping it will travel far and wide, as we look forward to following the future work of its director. The Award for Best Short Film goes to May the Earth Become the Sky.
Healthy Workplaces Film Award – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Award for Best Feature-Length Film Dealing with Work from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives and Cinema of Urgency
The Beach of Enchaquirados, by Iván Mora Manzano
The jury decided to give the Healthy Workplaces Film Award to a film that strongly resonated with us for the kindness with which it portrays its main character and corresponding gender identity, at once bringing us closer to an unknown reality and making excellent use of the cinematic language to study a character and the corresponding work environment. The jury is especially appreciative of the way in which this film shows that solidarity and togetherness are important dimensions of work life, proving that community spirit contributes to individual resilience. The Healthy Workplaces Film Award goes to The Beach of Enchaquirados, by Iván Mora Manzano.
Practice, Tradition and Heritage Award – INATEL Foundation Award for Best Film Dealing with Cultural and Traditional Practices as well as Intangible Cultural Heritage from a selection comprising all sections with the exception of the retrospectives and Cinema of Urgency
Goodbye, Captain, by Tatiana Almeida e Vincent Carelli
Evaluating the nominees reminded us that we can always praise something that revolutionises, but we can also advocate those traditional cultural demonstrations that must be preserved. While tradition used to depend on the tales of the eldest to pass on, today the recordings of moving images strengthen our identification with several practices, which is to key to be able to understand the past and look at the future. For reflecting that transition from orality to visuality, and for emphasising that culture preservation is a form of social resistance, the Practice, Tradition and Heritage Award goes to Goodbye, Captain, by Tatiana Almeida ad Vincent Carelli.
Special Mention
Yarokamena, by Andrés Jurado
For an appealing narrative, associated with a compelling artistic composition, the jury awards an honourable mention to Yarokamena, by Andrés Jurado.
Fernando Lopes Award – Midas Filmes and Doclisboa Award for Best Portuguese First Film
Home, Revised, by Inês Pedrosa e Melo
At a time when image is viral, the idea of researching the archaeology of image, which separates voyeurism from collective memories, is what makes this film so special. The Fernando Lopes Award goes to Home, Revised, by Inês Pedrosa e Melo.
Audience Award – Público Newspaper Award for Best Portuguese Film comprising all sections with the exception of Green Years
What Words can do, by Luísa Marinho, Luísa Sequeira
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Green Years Competition
Le Fresnoy Award for Best Green Years Film
Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Naama Heiman
For portraying a singular relationship with love that exceeds the question of love itself through moments of wittiness and raw honesty, we decide to give Le Fresnoy Award for Best Green Years Film to Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Naama Heiman.
Pedro Fortes Award for Best Green Years Portuguese Film
Bentuguese, by Daniel Borga
For the simple, honest and caring way in which the director chooses to approach this community without dramatising its social reality, we decided to give the Pedro Fortes Award for Best Green Years Portuguese Film to Bentuguese, by Daniel Borga.
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Arché Awards
RTP Award for Best Feature-Length Project in the Editing or First Cut Stage
Savannah and the Mountain, by Paulo Carneiro
Transporting the viewer to a threatened land, the director impressed us with his cinematic language that empowers a community to find its voice of resistance. The award goes to Savannah and the Mountain, by Paulo Carneiro.
Selina Award for Best Project in the Writing or Development Stage
Continuum, by Mariana Bomba
Through a treasure trove of archival material centered in female voices and experiences, this film links the urgency of love to the passion of filmmaking and creative experimentation. The award goes to Continuum, by Mariana Bomba.
School of Arts, Universidade Católica Portuguesa Award – Special Arché Jury Award for a Project in the Writing or Development Stage
House made of mist, by Alberto Dexeus
Driven by the courage to confront secrets and hidden traumas, this emerging director seeks to understand the trauma caused by civil war and repression through a filmmaking that pushes the boundaries of form. The award goes to House Made of Mist, by Alberto Dexeus.
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Nebulae Awards
DAE Talent Encouragement Award
Beyond Landscape, by Etienne de France
Prod. Aymeric Isnard (Futur Antérieur)
France
Pitch the Doc Award – Award to One of the selected projects of the Invited Country
Under the Volcano, Sara Rastegar, Simone Pozzi
Jasmina Sijercic (Bocalupo Film), Giovanni Donfrancesco (Altara Films)
France, Italy
DAFilms.com Award
“Lettre à Eric Pauwels” ou a Florista e o Cônsul, Clara Jost
Anze Persin (Stenar Projects), Carole Chassaing (Tamara Films)
Portugal, France
