We are gradually unveiling the film program — both competitive and non-competitive — for the 21st edition of FEST, which will take place from June 21st to 29th in Espinho.
We remind you of the 3 accreditation options available and their respective prices until the start of the festival (after which they will increase again):
PRO - FULL ACCESS — access to all industry events, networking sessions, and all film screenings.
TALENT — access to all film screenings as well as the masterclasses & workshops at the Training Ground (the full program will be announced in the coming weeks).
CINEMA & MUSIC — free access to all film screenings (including the special opening and closing sessions).
The film program is being announced section by section, and there are plenty more exciting updates to come in the coming days. Discover the lineup revealed so far.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Opening Session: Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti (PSE, DEU, FRA, ITA, QAT)
Closing Session: C' est Pas La Vie En Rose by Leonor Bettencourt (PRT)
GOLDEN LYNX COMPETITION
This competition focuses on first and second feature films — fiction and documentary — from some of the most remarkable and daring new voices on the international scene.
Golden Lynx Fiction
Peacock by Bernhard Wenger (AUT, DEU)
Manas by Marianna Brennand (BRA, PRT)
Cactus Pears by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade (IND, GBR, CAN)
Lesson Learned by Bálint Szimler (HUN)
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) by Joel Alfonso Vargas (USA)
SILVER LYNX COMPETITION
The Silver Lynx is a short film competition aimed at launching emerging filmmakers, covering four distinct formats: Fiction, Documentary, Animation, and Experimental Cinema.
Silver Lynx Fiction Selection
To be announced
Silver Lynx Documentary Selection
Sit.Play.Stay. by Cecilie Flyger Hansen (SWE)
What if we run out of stones? by Nora Štrbová (CZE)
Berthe is dead but it's ok by Sacha Trilles (FRA)
Who Loves the Sun by Arshia Shakiba (CAN)
Sixty-seven Milliseconds by Fleuryfontaine (FRA)
Common Pear by Gregor Božič (SVN)
The Stage We Are At by Marlena Matikainen (FIN)
102 Narra by Tatjana Fanny & Rafael Manuel (NLD)
Silver Lynx Animation Selection
Dare to be fabulous by Zhen Zhou, Xinxin Qin, Carla Sampaio da Silva, Adam Meziane Philipps, Yangjia Chen, João Buosi (FRA)
Void Spaces by Marta Koch (POL)
Loss by Sonya Umanski, Alika Levinson (UKR)
When it comes (it will have your eyes) by Izibene Oñederra (ESP)
Plimovanje by Živa Divjak (CZE)
Larval by Alice Bloomfield (GBR)
Wormwood by Matthieu Dupille, Binlin Xie, Alexander Vanderplank, Ninon Quemener, Philémon Martin, Chenhe Liu
The Crooked Heads by Jakub Krzyszpin (POL)
Baby on Board. The Dark Web Catbot by Dog & Rabbit, Will Anderson (GBR)
Silent Panorama by Nicolas Piret (BEL)
Silver Lynx Experimental Selection
How to be a ghost in Bangkok? by Jing Zhao (THA, GBR)
Medical Field Guide or Rules of engagement with native e-girls by Andran Abramjan, Jan Hofman (CZ)
I, Monster by Zofia Tomalska (POL)
The male gaze recipe by Joey Arand, Alma Weber (GER)
The Land of Abandonment by Eliška Lubojatzká (CZ)
Totally Cooked by Dian Joy (GBR)
Riga Crypto and Lapona Engiel by Vlad Cocieru (ROM)
December rumbles by Ziyang Liu (CHN)
Tooth & Nail by Francesca Roth (EUA)
The National Grand Prix celebrates the best of new Portuguese talent and stands out as one of FEST's most prestigious sections. This year, we have selected 23 short films, divided across 4 sessions, which will take place during the final days of FEST’s 21st edition.
GPN #1
Fragmented by Balolas Carvalho, Tanya Marar (PRT)
Isle of Mia by Miguel Pinto, Francisco Morais (PRT, GBR)
Arriba Beach by Nishchaya Gera (PRT, BEL, NDL, USA)
Agente Imobiliário Sem Casa Para Viver by Filipe Amorim (PRT)
movimento. dim∑nsão. impacto. by MJ Sousa (PRT)
MAIO by Claudio Carbone (PRT)
GPN #2
Business as usual by Pedro Vinícius (PRT)
A Fronteira Azul by Dinis Miguens Costa (PRT, FRA, ESP)
Tu que o rio habitas by José Freitas (PRT)
Primeiro Encontro by Luís Filipe Borges (PRT)
Vista Sobre o Infinito by Henrique Prudêncio (PRT)
GPN #3
Daniella by Fuad Halwani (PRT)
O Espaço que Existe Entre Uma Coisa e Outra by Marina Leonardo (PRT)
O Tempo das Cerejas by Clara Frazão Parente (PRT)
Dentro, fora do Brasil by Marina Schneider (PRT)
Estéril by João Pais da Silva (PRT)
Tem Fé by Leonor Patrocinio Alves, ʜᴇʟᴇɴ ᴇsᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀsᴄʜᴀᴜᴇʀ (PRT)
GPN #4
Quinta Parede by Ana Martins Pereira (PRT)
Perpetual disorder by João Carlos Pinto (PRT, ESP)
TEMPESTADES by Luz Silva (PRT)
Prima ku Lebsi by Welket Bungué (PRT)
Os Ecos que Carregamos by Areeba Naveed (PRT)
My Ray of Sunshine by Laís Andrade (PRT, BRA)
NEXXT
A festival that aims to discover the latest talents in film production could never stray far from academic circles, where new creative voices are constantly incubated. In 2025, FEST once again shines a spotlight on academic cinema through the NEXXT competition.
To be announced
BE KIND REWIND
To be announced
ECOS
The Ecos section returns to showcase some of the boldest works of the year, as well as new pieces by filmmakers who have remained on our radar.
To be announced
FESTinha
Originally a set of children's sessions, FESTinha has become one of the fastest-growing sections of our event, expanding the festival's reach and audience. Three separate juries, made up of children and teenagers from different age groups, will evaluate various blocks of short films and a selection of feature films tailored to each age range.
To be announced
