PORTO/POST/DOC 2026: OPEN CALL
Submissions are now open for the 13th edition of the Porto/Post/Doc: Film & Media Festival, which will take place from 19 to 28 November 2026 in Porto. Recognised as a meeting point for cinema, critical thinking and contemporary creation, the festival is dedicated to so-called “cinema of the real”, welcoming works that question and expand the boundaries between documentary and fiction, and fostering an ongoing dialogue between filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals.
COMPETITIVE PROGRAMMES
The competitive programme of Porto/Post/Doc is structured around several sections, reflecting the diversity of forms, durations and approaches within contemporary cinema:
International Competition: Feature-length films over 60 minutes that explore, in singular ways, the limits of documentary and fictional cinema.
International Medium and Short Film Competition: Medium-length (31–60 minutes) and short films (up to 30 minutes), highlighting the formal concision and narrative strength of these formats.
Cinema Falado: A section dedicated to films in Portuguese or centred on Lusophone cultures and contexts.
Cinema Novo: A space for emerging Portuguese filmmakers, including film students studying in Portugal or abroad.
Transmission: A programme focused on films that intersect cinema, music, sound and pop culture, adopting hybrid and cross-disciplinary perspectives.
Youth Jury Award: A selection of films aimed at younger audiences, evaluated by a jury composed of higher education students from the Porto region.
NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAMMES
Complementing the competitions, the festival presents a range of non-competitive programmes that broaden contexts of exhibition, reflection and audience engagement:
School Trip: Screenings and educational activities designed for school groups, encouraging engagement with cinema in a pedagogical context.
Docs4Teens: A European initiative developed in partnership with festivals such as Krakow Film Festival, Festival dei Popoli, FIPADOC and Docudays UA, dedicated to teenage audiences and accompanied by educational activities.
Immersive Dome Cinema: A programme presented at the Porto Planetarium, centred on immersive cinematic experiences.
Thematic Programmes and Filmmaker Focuses: Curated proposals that explore authorial universes and key questions within contemporary cinema.
Special Screenings: Highlight screenings, opening and closing sessions, premieres and unique events within the festival programme.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Early Deadline: 31 January 2026
Regular Deadline: 30 April 2026
Extended Deadline: 31 July 2026
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
Films whose original language is not English must include English subtitles.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Submissions must be made exclusively through the FilmFreeway platform:
FURTHER INFORMATION
The full festival regulations are available here. For any additional questions, please contact the festival team at opencall@portopostdoc.com.
Take part in Porto/Post/Doc 2026 and present your work in an international context dedicated to contemporary cinema and critical thought.
