Alvorada | Dawn
Portugal | Portugal | 11’38’’ | 2020 Director: Carolina Neves Producer: Kyle Sousa
Synopsis
Vasco is exposed to his brother’s extremist ideals, expressed through the National Socialist Black Metal genre. However, Vasco does not identify with the nature of the movement and hides from his brother an essential aspect of his life, in order to avoid a fraternal break, while tracing the path of self-acceptance.
Biography
Carolina Neves was born in 1995 in Porto, where she currently lives. She completed the Audiovisual Communication course at Escola Artística de Soares dos Reis, specialising in Photography. In 2016, Carolina graduated from Escola Superior de Artes e Design of Matosinhos in Communication Design. In 2017, she continued with her studies and enrolled in the Master’s Degree in Sound and Image from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, specialising in Cinema and Audiovisual. As a final Master’s project, she wrote, directed and edited the short film Alvorada.
Escuro | Dark
Portugal | Portugal | 13’12’’ | 2018 Director: Leonor Alexandrino Producer: Glória Dias
Synopsis
Diana is a 42 year old swimming coach who is on sick leave and spends her nights alone at home without sleeping. On one of these nights Diana starts to hear, at late hours, a strange noise coming from the street. When she goes to the balcony she sees a blind man walking outside, stopping to look at Diana. This enigmatic figure upsets her so much that, after seeing the blind man again the following nights, she decides to go after him. Diana follows him to a beach and both have a conversation where their past is revealed.
Biography
Leonor Alexandrino had very early contact with photography and cinema. She studied cinema at Universidade Lusófona, where she developed several projects. In 2017, she made a documentary in Jianshui (Yunnan, China) about the six arts of Confucius. In 2018 she directed her first fiction short film, Escuro. The short film was selected for several national and international festivals, such as the Sophia Student Awards, FEST – Espinho, among others.
Estereoscopia | Stereoscopy
Portugal | Portugal | 6’20’’ | 2017
Director: Sandrine Cordeiro
Synopsis
When a woman and a boy dialogue, creating a fictional relationship in a space dedicated to image and cinema
Biography
Sandrine Cordeiro studied Fine Arts at ESAD, History of Contemporary Art at the New University of Lisbon and Theatre at ESAD. Her work since then has been marked by a diversity of means of expression ranging from fine arts, writing, staging and acting, among others. She made her debut with Estereoscopia, her first short film, selected for national and international festivals.
Ponto de Controlo | Checkpoint
Portugal | Portugal | 5’15’’ | 2019
Director: Juulia Kalavainen
Producer: Ansah Fiona Worlanyo Aku
Synopsis
A war-torn area. A solitary military checkpoint. A soldier stands guard alone, the only soul between two conflicting areas. Amidst the oppressive and desolate landscape, he discovers an unexpected connection with a little girl.
Biography
Juulia Kalavainen is a Finnish film director currently based in Scotland. With a particular interest in anthropological, spiritual and environmental themes, she seeks to explore the relationships between humans, culture and nature in her work. She is passionate about telling the stories of characters who are in liminal phases of their lives – transforming or searching for their own place in the world.
Quando For Tarde | Alice by Night
Portugal | Portugal | 12’10’’ | 2018
Director: Matilde Calado
Producer: Matilde Calado, António Simão
Synopsis
Even before we know ourselves, when we are little, the only thing we want is to be loved. Alice By Night is an observational fiction. It shows us the common state we are when in love and the determination when being after someone. Na analysis on the old illusion that the prince charming will come and fill the emotional weaknesses we have in life.
Biography
“A young filmmaker that portrays what is closest to her, the things that are dearest to her, in her very special way. Always with projects where intimacy is shown with generosity and fondness. Her movies are lacking in embellishments because the beauty in them is in the little details. She started by making documentary films, like The Birth Statement and Photographs That I Never Took. Recently this filmmaker made her first fiction Alice by Night.” – Sara N. Santos
Ruby | Ruby
Portugal | Portugal | 25’00’’ | 2019
Director: Mariana Gaivão
Producer: Pedro Duarte, Alexander Gerner, Mariana Gaivão
Synopsis
The chorus of dawn descends the burned mountain, echoing in the shale walls of a Portuguese village. Ruby awakens and stands in the half light. Outside, her dog Frankie has run away. Daughter of two worlds, the one that the English parents left behind and the Portuguese land of her upbringing that still calls her a foreigner, Ruby moves between the borders of both, without belonging to either. Her best friend, Millie, will be returning to England; the end of their childhood meets the end of a warm summer day.
Biography
Mariana Gaivão began her career as a film editor, having collaborated in films screened and awarded worldwide in the festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Locarno, among others.
She has directed, SOLO, First Light, and, most recently, her new short film RUBY, which was awarded Best Director at Vila do Conde and premiered in the Official Selection at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2020
Teus Braços, Minhas Ondas | Your Arms Are My Waves
Portugal | Portugal | 11’00’’ | 2019
Director: Débora Gonçalves
Producer: Débora Gonçalves, Ana Pedrosa, Jéssica Almeida
Synopsis
A couple, woman and man, united by love, years and fights, to whom fragility and economic difficulty happens. Having nothing else to give or do, they give themselves to each other, for each other.
Biography
Débora Gonçalves has a degree in Cinema from the University of Beira Interior, and is a graduate in Production and Directing from the ESMAD’s Master’s Degree in Audiovisual Communication. Her most outstanding work was the short film Teus Braços, Minhas Ondas, winner of the Honourable Mention of the National Award from Fest – New Directors, New Films Film Festival.
