FEST wraps up PRO program with confirmations of Asghar Farhadi and underwater cinematography specialists Françoise Valentine and Mike Valentine

The festival kicks off this saturday in Espinho

FEST-Festival Novos Realizadores | Novo Cinema returns to Espinho from June 20 to 28, introducing a new edition that combines a strong bet on the discovery of new cinematographic talents with an increasingly comprehensive professional program. This year's edition stands out for its tribute to polish director Andrzej Wajda, the presentation of international short and feature films competitions and for the presence of worldwide industry benchmark names.

In the year marking the centenary of the birth of Andrzej Wajda, the festival has a dedicated retrospective in the Be Kind Rewind section, revisiting the works of one of the most influential figures of European post-war cinema. The program includes essential titles such as: “A Generation”, “Man of Marble” and “Man of Iron”, as well as a selection of short films produced with the context of Wajda School, an institution created by the director which played a vital role in the education of  new generations of Central European Filmmakers.

The Grande Prémio Nacional remains one of the cornerstones of the festival, presenting a selection of 22 short films that reflect that vitality of Portuguese cinema, bringing together filmmakers working in Portugal and abroad, as well as international filmmakers connected to national productions. Highlights include “A Hora do Chico!”, by Rafael Sá Carneiro and João Severo, “TGX”, by André Senra Azevedo, and “Gonâve”, a co-production starring Adriano Carvalho and Ivo Canelas. Hugo Sousa, the director and actor born in Espinho, returns to the festival with the short film “Best Friends With The Devil”.

The film program also includes the Golden Lynx and Silver Lynx international competition. In the feature film competition, composed of 10 films, highlights works that address subjects such as historical memory, political violence, intimacy, war and women's rights. Among the selected titles are “Truly Naked”, by Muriel d’Ansembourg, “Girl”, the directorial debut of actress Shu Qi, “Silent Flood”, about a pacifist community threatened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and “Red Hangar”, inspired by the events surrounding the Chilean military coup of 1973.

The festival’s official opening will feature the national premiere of “Yellow Letters”, by director İlker Çatak, winner of the Golden Bear award at the 2026 Berlinade. The film follows a Turkish artist couple confronted with censorship and state surveillance. The closing film will be “Complaint Nº. 713317”, Yasser Shafiey's first feature film, a satire on bureaucracy and aging focused on a retired couple from Cairo.

Alongside the film program, FEST is strengthening its educational and professional aspects through a program that brings together some of the most renowned figures in the international film industry. Among the new confirmations for the 2026 edition are Asghar Farhadi, one of the most acclaimed contemporary filmmakers and two-time Oscar winner for “A Separation” and “The Salesman”; Alexander Nanau, Oscar nominated director for “Collective”; Miguel Faus, spanish director of “Calladita”; casting director Nancy Bishop, responsible for projects such as “Anne Frank: The Whole Story” and “Snowpiercer”; Caprice Crawford, founder of Crawford Talents; and Florian Reimann, producer and CEO of Yamdu, a platform for production management. Also attending FEST are producer and screenwriter Kaveh Farnam and underwater cinematography specialists Françoise Valentine e Mike Valentine, whose credits include productions such as “The Beach”, “Skyfall” and “Leviathan”.

Among the announced guest for the Training Ground are Bosnian director Danis Tanović, winner of the Oscar for Best International Film for “No Man’s Land” and author of award winning works at Cannes and Berlin, as well as Paul Davies and Pete Travis, who are returning to the festival to lead specialized workshops. The Sound & Music Hub will feature Oscar winner John Warhurst, one of the world’s leading figures in music supervision and sound editing, and composer Harry Escott, a recipient of BAFTA, BIFA, and RTS awards.

The professional programs also features director of photography Dan Laustsen, who is a regular colaborator of Guillermo del Toro and a three time academy award nominee. Katie Spencer and Sarah Greenwood, respectively set decorater and production designer of “Barbie”, will also be present, strengthning a programming that spans various creative and tecnical fields of the audiovisual industry.

With a programming that blends autheur cinema, the discovery of new filmmakers and specialized training, FEST once again establishes itself as one the most important meeting points between emerging talent and international film industry.

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