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'Pulp Fiction's' Maria de Madeiros Receives Tribute at Guadalajara's Portugal Country of Honor Celebrations
Portugal has brought a bevy of producers, directors and actors to the 40th Guadalajara Film Festival where its Country of Honor celebrations include a tribute to Portuguese actor and director Maria de Medeiros at the fest's closing ceremony.
'Portugal is part of the Ibero-American community and I think that it's very important for us, as a Spanish-speaking country to have the Portuguese attending in force,' explains Estrella Araiza, Guadalajara's general director.
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'I think Portuguese cinema can definitely reinforce its ties with Latin America. It has a clear sensitivity for countries outside the European Union, which is very rare and precious. Every Portuguese film I've seen explores complex human situations and emotions. In a world wracked by convulsion, controversy and war, I think it's important to get back to core issues facing humanity.'
Maria de Medeiros will provide a masterclass in which she will talk about her career, focusing on her directorial debut, 'Captains of April' (2000) about Portugal's 1974 revolution. Veteran producer Paulo Branco will give a masterclass on The Freedom to Make Films.
Masterclasses on animation will be provided by João Gonzalez, who will discuss his Oscar-nominated short 'Ice Merchants,' and by Regina Pessoa who will talk about her creative process, spanning shorts such as 'The Night,' 'Tragic Story with Happy Ending' 'Kali, the Little Vampire' and 'Uncle Thomas, Accounting for the Days.'
'I've always admired Regina Pessoa's career,' says Araiza. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to have Portuguese animation directors meet our animation industry here in Jalisco. I think both our industries share a similar sensitivity. I think it's going to be a very good match!'
A total of 38 Portuguese films will screen in the festival's various sections, including shorts, features, animation and documentaries.
There are 10 Portuguese films in competitions, amongst 38 Portuguese films screening in the festival's various sections, including shorts, features, animation and documentaries.
Paulo Carneiro's 'Savanna and the Mountain,' Albert Serra's 'Tardes de Soledad' and Takashi Sugimoto's 'Black Gold,' are competing for best Ibero-American documentary. Justin Amorim's 'Flying Carpet' is vying for best Ibero-American short and two Portuguese pics are competing for the Maguey Award, which celebrates LGBTQ cinema – Paula Tomás Marques' 'Twice João Liberated' and Justine Lemahieu's 'Them, Fado Bicha.' Salvador Gil's 'Rogéria' is shortlisted for the Youth Jury Award.
Luís Chaby Vaz, president of Portugal's Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA), is attending and was recently appointed executive secretary of the Conference of Ibero-American Cinematographic Authorities (CACI).
'Guadalajara is keen to attract large audiences to its screenings, which is a magnificent opportunity for our films,' says Chaby Vaz. 'I found their curatorial choices very interesting, since they touch on different eras, varying from our best-known directors, some of whom sadly are no longer with us, to contemporary productions which will premiere at the festival.'
Portugal is a member of Ibermedia, has a bilateral co-production treaty with Brazil and a co-development agreement with Uruguay. A dedicated co-production meeting between Portuguese and Latin American producers will be held on June 7 and director Gonçalo Galvão Teles will pitch 'Rebeldia' in FICG's Co-production program and Filipe Bessa Vieira will pitch 'Rua Gisberta' in the Episode 0 sidebar.
Portuguese films screening at Guadalajara include co-productions between Portugal and Latin America such as 'Dreaming with Lions,' by Greek-Portuguese director Paolo Marinou-Blanco, competing for best Ibero-American fiction feature film, and 'The Memory of Butterflies,' by Peruvian director, Tatiana Fuentes Sadowsk.
Portugal is keen to increase its visibility in leading film festivals and last year was Country of Honor at the Annecy Animation Festival, where it staged an impressive showcase of one of its most vital and vibrant of filmmaking sectors.
'Portugal is a medium-sized European country and we're strongly committed to co-production which increases our creative options and financial capacity and guarantees more effective distribution,' Chaby Vaz explains.
Portugal's presence at Guadalajara also includes a gastronomy event with Chef Kiko, one of Portugal's leading chefs, and a café concert with The Fado Bicha band.
There will be an exhibition dedicated to Nuno Beato's stop-motion animated feature, 'My Grandfather's Demons' which had its world premiere at Annecy in 2022, and a showcase of Portuguese locations entitled 'Portugal is Art.'
'Mexico is a strategic market for us in terms of attracting film productions and at a wider level of tourism,' explains Ana Marques, executive director of the Portugal Film Commission who will also be attending. '17 billboards outside the festival building will showcase the diversity of our locations – not only to the general public but also to Latin American producers with whom we aim to promote co-productions.'
'This is a unique opportunity for our industry,' concludes Chaby Vaz. 'It enables our producers and talent to establish closer ties with producers in Latin America and specifically with Mexican producers, who are absolutely exceptional.'
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