In 2026, FEST is expanding its industry program with the launch of Actors Hub, a new space dedicated to training, reflection, and creating professional opportunities for actors and professionals in the film and audiovisual industries, taking place in Espinho on June 26 and 27.
Over the course of two days, the Actors Hub will bring together workshops, masterclasses, debates, and networking moments, creating a practical and intimate setting where actors, casting directors, filmmakers, and producers can exchange experiences, explore working methods in greater depth, and build new professional connections.
The program was designed to address the needs of the acting sector: audition preparation, relationships with casting directors, collaboration between actors and directors, career development, and direct contact with different industry profiles.
Section programmed by the FEST team and casting director Jo Monteiro.
ACCESS TO THE ACTORS HUB IS EXCLUSIVE TO PRO ACCREDITATIONS, with some activities subject to prior registration.
Actors Hub PROGRAM 2026
DAY I | 26th June
Masterclass Kami Naghdi
The Actor and the Law: Contracts, Rights and Professional Protection
26 JUN | 11:00 | ROOM 02
In this session, entertainment lawyer Kami Naghdi will explore the legal and professional challenges actors face throughout their careers, from representation, contracts and negotiations to image rights, working relationships and long-term career protection. Aimed at actors navigating the realities of the industry, the session will offer practical insight into when legal advice becomes important, what performers should pay attention to in agreements, and how stronger legal awareness can help them make better professional decisions.
Workshop Pete Travis
The Art of Screen Acting - Acting through the Directors Lens
26 JUN | 14:00 | ROOM 02
Designed specifically for actors, this practical workshop explores aspects of the actor’s craft and professional development that are often overlooked in traditional training. Drawing on his experience as a director working with some of the best actors on the planet, Pete Travis will examine the creative relationship between directors and actors in film and tv. In this hands on workshop you will explore the craft of screen acting and gain a deeper understanding of how actors can engage with and shape the creative process. The workshop will explore acting for the camera, preparing for a scene, rehearsing, and working on set. Participants will examine acting from a director’s perspective, and gain a unique insight into communication, collaboration and the dynamics of working on film. The workshop aims to help actors develop a broader understanding of their role within filmmaking and to feel more confident, included and empowered as creative collaborators.
Masterclass Ana Rocha de Sousa
From Actor to Director: Performance, Character and Seeing the Scene from Both Sides
26 JUN | 18:00 | ROOM 02
In this session, Ana Rocha de Sousa will reflect on her journey from acting to directing, and on how an actor’s understanding of emotion, rhythm and vulnerability can shape the way scenes are built from behind the camera. This conversation will explore performance from both sides of the process, looking at character, subtext, communication with directors, and the value of understanding the wider dramatic and cinematic construction of a scene.
DAY 2 | 27th JUNE
Caprice Crawford, Jo Monteiro, Nancy Bishop
ACTORS AND AUDITIONING: “DO I BELIEVE YOU?”
27 JUN | 10:00 | ROOM 02
Led by an international team of industry professionals — Caprice Crawford (CEO, Crawford Talents, Germany), Jo Monteiro, CSA (Casting Director, Portugal), and Nancy Bishop, CSA (Casting Director, UK) — this session will be divided into two parts. In the first section, we will explore and practise the concept of believability in an audition. One of the key questions casting directors ask themselves is: “Do I believe this actor in this role?” Through practical exercises and active participation, actors will investigate what creates authenticity, connection, and credibility on screen. In the second section, Caprice, Jo, and Nancy will continue the discussion and open the floor for questions from participants.
Masterclass Stephan Elliot
Developing The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 2: Writing, Reimagining and Returning to Beloved Characters
27 JUN | 14:00 | ROOM 02
In this session, Stephan Elliott will explore the development of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 2, reflecting on the long process of returning to a world and set of characters that have carried meaning for audiences across generations. Through the lens of this new project, the conversation will look at how a filmmaker decides to revisit iconic material, how characters are rethought for a changed moment in time, and how tone, voice, performance and emotional truth are shaped during development. A Q&A with participants will follow.
Debate
Actors Got Solutions – The Future of the Acting Profession
27 JUN | 16:30 | ROOM 02
A dynamic, talent-show-inspired debate where actors share ideas to improve the lives, careers and opportunities of actors today. Instead of a traditional panel discussion, each of 6 participants presents one practical solution to a key challenge in the acting profession: access to auditions, fair working conditions, casting transparency, international visibility, agents, AI, mental health, training, or career sustainability. A panel of 3 experienced professionals responds to each proposal, creating a lively, constructive and forward-looking conversation about the future of acting.
