The Porto/Post/Doc film festival celebrated films and projects that reflect the aesthetic, thematic and political diversity of contemporary cinema. This reaffirmed the festival’s commitment to cinema that is grounded in reality, formal experimentation and critical thinking. The juries, which were composed of professionals with recognised international experience in the fields of cinema, curatorship, criticism, research and the audiovisual industry, were spread across the different competitions and programmes.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Vicente Pinto Abreu Grand Prix
Value: €3,000
“Short Summer”, by Nastia Korkia
The jury began by highlighting the quality of the selection they had the privilege to watch and by thanking the festival’s programming team. The decision was unanimous. The jury of the International Competition awarded the Vicente Pinto Abreu Grand Prix to a film that engages with poetry, symbolism and magic in the construction of a childhood that transcends the materiality of the image and of the elements. The film is both surprising and moving, while also instilling a sense of fear. Set in a geography marked by war, it accompanies the collapse of the world surrounding the protagonist, affirming a sensitive and deeply cinematic approach.
International Competition Jury:
Anna Eborn, Filipa Reis, Frédéric Maire
HUMAN RIGHTS IN MOTION
Human Rights In Motion Award
Value: €5,000
“Rule of Stone”, by Danae Elon
As a Human Rights Jury, the decision was not easy, given the remarkable overall quality of the selection. One film, however, stood out through a surprising and audacious perspective, revealing the hidden power of architecture and the unexpected tools of manipulation shaping an urban landscape. Its masterfully structured narrative shows how ideology can overshadow human rights, and how well-intentioned creators can be instrumentalised, with lasting consequences. The film challenges us to think differently, to look deeper, and to recognise the political forces at play.
Human Rights In Motion Jury:
Alexandra Oliveira, Ana Cristina Pereira, Marta García Larriu
CINEMA FALADO COMPETITION
SPAutores – Cinema Falado Award
Value: €1,500
“The Last Harvest”, by Nuno Boaventura Miranda
A work that encompasses individual, collective and cultural stories of colonisation and its consequences. With exemplary editing, splendid cinematography and an intelligent, precise use of sound, the film addresses grief, memory and the past – distant yet close – with sensitivity and depth, creating an intimate and politically conscious reflection.
Cinema Falado Competition Jury:
Amélie Galli, Anabela Moutinho, Riccardo Costantini
INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM-LENGTH & SHORT FILM COMPETITION
International Medium-Length & Short Film Competition Award
Value: €1,000
“Just Sea”, by Franziska von Stenglin
A poetic reflection on nature and the painful decline of marine biodiversity. Through striking and evocative imagery, the film immerses the viewer in the world of Salvo, a touching and authentic fisherman whose life embodies traditional ways of fishing. Filled with melancholy and poetry, the film conveys a powerful atmosphere, reflecting a deep engagement with the natural world and a vision of cinema learned directly from nature itself.
International Medium-Length & Short Film Competition Jury:
Chema González, Fabien De Macedo, Laura Hörzelberger
TRANSMISSION COMPETITION
Audience Award – Transmission
Value: €1,000
“Orlando Pantera”, by Catarina Alves Costa
Awarded by the audience, this prize reflects the direct involvement of viewers in recognising and valuing the films presented in the Transmission section.
CINEMA NOVO COMPETITION
Cinema Novo Canal180 Award
Value: €500
“Dans un souffle”, by Catarina Couto Gonçalves
Driven by the language of breathing, the film builds a compelling soundscape and a sensitive narrative about the struggle and resilience of an ambitious young skater. Through skilful black-and-white cinematography and a complete reliance on image and sound, it delivers its message with rigour and emotional restraint.
Honourable Mention:
“Closer to Animal”, by Afonso Gil Mendes Branco
By portraying the precarious life of a young artist, the filmmaker’s choice of a lo-fi, DIY aesthetic contributes to a thought-provoking narrative that culminates in powerful moments of expressive and emotional dance.
MAD – MAD Award
For a filmmaker in the New Cinema Competition
“Dans un souffle”, by Catarina Couto Gonçalves
Cinema Novo Competition Jury:
Beatrice Minger, Peter Mack, Rita Capucho
YOUNG JURY
Young Jury Award
“Short Summer”, by Nastia Korkia
The Young Jury highlighted the way the director approaches delicate contemporary issues through the naïve gaze of the main protagonist, an eight-year-old girl, leaving open questions throughout the film that prompt reflection on the context in which she is placed and generate a sense of unease. The jury also underlined the visual poetry achieved through naturalistic lighting and an immersive narrative rhythm.
WORKING CLASS HEROES
Working Class Heroes Award – Filmaporto Film Commission and Fundación “la Caixa”/CaixaForum+
Value: €75,000
“Vigília”, by Elena López Riera
The selected project stands at a striking intersection of working-class realities, the filmmaker’s stylistic choices and a renewed approach that blends fiction and documentary. Rooted in Porto’s history, it engages thoughtfully with LGBTQ narratives and marginalised stories, reflecting the programme’s commitment to cinema as a poetic and political tool, and to community building.
Working Class Heroes Jury:
Caterina Mazzucato, Maja Jankowska, Myriam Weil
This set of awards and distinctions reflects the diversity of perspectives, practices and geographies present at Porto/Post/Doc, affirming the festival as a space for encounter between cinematic creation, critical reflection and dialogue with the contemporary world.
