Three short films shot in the North of Portugal will have their world premieres in the Cannes Festival Directors’ Fortnight on 17 May. The films have been developed by pairings of emerging filmmakers — André Guiomar and Mya Kaplan, Mário Macedo and Dornaz Hajiha, and Mariana Bártolo and García López — as part of the programme The Factory.
This artistic residency — which takes place yearly with the objective of stimulating cinematographic encounters and promoting new talent — took place in the North of the country, bringing together duos of local and foreign filmmakers to shoot short films in the region. The shoots passed through Porto, Guimarães, Matosinhos, Famalicão and Rio Tinto, supported by local teams and the production companies Bando à Parte and DW Production.
André Guiomar and Mya Kaplan (Israel) have directed O Espinho, a film that follows Téo, a lunar teenager who develops a spiritual relationship with the new priest of his rural village. Directed by Mário Macedo and Dornaz Hajiha (Iran), Maria is the story of a female worker at a metal factory who lives daily under the oppression of men’s violence. Finally, As Gaivotas Cortam o Céu, by Mariana Bártolo and García López (Spain), tells the story of Clara, owner of a fishermen’s bar, and Raquel, a worker on cruise ships, in an atmosphere dominated by the union strikes in Porto’s fishing port.
As well as the screenings (on 17 May, at 16:30), during the festival the filmmakers will have the opportunity to present their existing filmographies and one in-development feature film to members of the international industry.
The programme is supported by the Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual, RTP, Filmaporto – film commission, Porto City Council, Guimarães City Council, CCDR-N Norte and the European Union.
The national premiere of the films is planned for the next edition of Curtas Vila do Conde.
