Portuguese Cinema Days Return to Berlin: 2024 Festival Guide
Berlin is set to showcase the best of Lusophone storytelling as the “Portuguese Cinema Days” return to the German capital from October 26 to December 3. This year’s festival has expanded its program to 12 screenings at the Moviemento cinema, reflecting a banner year for Portuguese-language film.
A Growing Celebration of Cinema
Festival organizer Helena Araújo, founder of the cultural association 2314, told Lusa that the selection process was particularly challenging this year. “It was truly difficult to choose among so many films, and such good ones,” she said, noting that the organization increased the number of sessions from the eight originally planned due to the high quality of available work.
Now in its eighth edition, the festival has achieved a significant milestone by being officially recognized on Berlin’s city portal, berlin.de. “It is a great satisfaction to see that the city of Berlin has officially recognized that our film festival is an integral part of the city’s cultural offering,” Araújo noted.
Highlights and Award Contenders
The festival opens on October 26 with Paolo Marinou-Blanco’s Sonhar com Leões (Dreaming of Lions), featuring a live Q&A with the director. Another major draw is the October 29 screening of António Ferreira’s A Memória do Cheiro das Coisas (The Memory of the Smell of Things), which was selected in part because it is in contention for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.
The curated selection bridges diverse themes, ranging from climate change and immigration to racism and social evolution. “Some films shift the perspective of this gaze, allowing ‘the other’ to speak in the first person and inviting the viewer to the empathy that arises from listening,” Araújo highlighted.
The 2024 Lineup Includes:
- Estamos no Ar (We Are on the Air): The feature debut of Diogo Costa Amarante.
- As Meninas Exemplares: A João Botelho adaptation that explores the artistic universe of Paula Rego.
- Orlando Pantera: A documentary by Catarina Alves Costa exploring the life of the legendary Cape Verdean musician.
- O Vento Assobia nas Gruas: An adaptation of Lídia Jorge’s celebrated novel, screening November 26.
- 18 Buracos para o Paraíso: The festival’s closing film by João Nuno Pinto on December 3.
More Than Just a Screening
The festival prides itself on being a community hub. Every film is shown in its original language with English subtitles to ensure accessibility for both Berlin’s Portuguese community and the city’s international residents.
Beyond the screen, the event is known for its post-film “conviviality”—informal gatherings where audiences discuss the films over glasses of Port wine. “Portuguese Cinema Days would be unthinkable without this element of exchange of ideas,” said Araújo.
While the festival relies heavily on volunteer efforts, Araújo is optimistic about the future. A new wave of young Portuguese residents has joined the organizing team, ensuring a “generational renewal” that promises to keep Portuguese culture thriving in Berlin for years to come.
Image: Pexels – Jerome Moreno
