On the 15th, Casa Comum, in the Rectory of the University of Porto, was filled with the younger audience and their families in a sold-out session that warmed up for the five days of cinema that will occupy various spaces in the city of Porto. The party couldn’t have started better, with lots of smiles and applause that occupied the room.
In addition to the more than 50 new films, one of the novelties of this edition is the creation of the University of Porto Impact Award, created in partnership with the university.
Fátima Vieira, Vice-Dean of Culture U.Porto, emphasizes: “With the University of Porto Impact Award, we seek to distinguish the film that shows how we are all interconnected, that challenges conventions, activates the imagination and provokes changes in the perception of our life – that shows that we are responsible for each other and inspires to action”.
The prize of €1,000 will be awarded to the film with the greatest impact, by a jury made up of elements from the University of Porto: Daniel Floquet, International PhD student and Researcher; Joana Caetano, PhD student at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto and collaborator of CETAPS – Center for English and Anglo-Portuguese Studies; and Susana Serro, from Casa Comum, who coordinates various activities related to cinema and audiovisuals.
In the international competition, the usual IndieJúnior Porto Grand Prize of €1,250, will be awarded to the best film in competition. The jury is made up of Gabriela Trevisan, ProChild CoLAB researcher against poverty and social exclusion and PhD in Child Studies; João Gonzalez, director, animator, illustrator and musician, trained in classical music; and Laura Gonçalves, director, animator and painter.
The public is also invited to participate with their vote and it will be up to them to choose the best film, to which a prize of €500 will be awarded.
Still at Casa Comum, on January 27, the central theme will be Hospitality. The Film-Debate: The challenges of young foreigners and their integration, will have as its starting point the film Bon Voyage, by Fabio Friedli, from which the debate will be launched with the intention of finding answers on how the community can participate in the inclusion of migrants, with a genuine sense of hospitality. In this conversation, moderated by Joana Félix (PNA), the guests are Paulo Pires do Vale (PNA), Fuse (Nuno Teixeira – (Dealema), Isabel Silva (Meeru), Fátima Vieira (U.Porto) and Daniel Floquet (Student at U.Porto).
Training and discovery are also highlighted in four workshops: I Want to Animate!; Half a Dozen Eggs – An Independent Production; The Clownfish and the Barracuda and New Normal. In these workshops it will be possible to create a flipbook, discover biodiversity and deconstruct what is and is not normal.
Tickets are available at the Rivoli Theater Ticket Office and at bol.pt since January 13th. For sessions at Casa das Artes, from the first day of the festival, 30 minutes before the start of the session and with reservations at indiejunior.com/casadasartes.
Image: Mes frères et moi