Political Festival
The Political Festival returns to Cinema São Jorge, with Participation as its central theme. There will be three days of cinema, performances, music, humour, exhibitions and talks, with sessions interpreted into Portuguese Sign Language and subtitled in Portuguese. On the fiftieth anniversary of 25 April, 1974 the focus of artists, young people, creators, academics and activists is on the need to increase citizens' participation in institutions, elections and their own communities.
Programme:
3 April
Estas histórias ajudam a aumentar a intervenção cívica e política? (Do these stories increase civic and political participation?)
Manoel de Oliveira Room; 5.30pm
Talk
The digital newspaper Mensagem de Lisboa has been working with "community reporters", young people and residents of Mem Martins (Sintra), Chelas (Lisbon) and Casal da Boba (Amadora), to publish stories from these areas that don't reach the mainstream media. Will telling these stories help to raise awareness of these communities and increase civic, associative and electoral participation? How can we make the grievances of these populations heard in the centres of decision-making and empower those who live there to have greater political participation? After the talk, there will be a presentation of the Gazetta do Bairro, a digital communication platform created and managed by people from the neighbourhood, which aims to tell stories, showcase projects and businesses, as part of an initiative by Rimas ao Minuto/Kriativu.
Projeto Narrativas da Mensagem de Lisboa collaborates with the Unidigrazz cultural group in Mem Martins, the Kriativu youth association in Chelas and the Cavaleiros-São Brás Association in Casal da Boba.
With interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language
Sapadores da Humanidade (Sappers of Humanity), by The Gandaya Collective, 69 mins (Portugal)
Room 3; 6pm
Cinema
This documentary recounts the winding life story of António José Botelho de Vasconcelos, who was born in colonial Angola to a Portuguese family in 1969. The first years of his life were marked one moment by fleeting opulence, the next by the austere, militarised figure of his paternal grandfather. The relationship between grandfather and grandson, characterised by "gratuitous" violence, also symbolises the blossoming of a dream - dance. At the age of five, when he returned to Portugal in the midst of the Carnation Revolution, his life was turned upside down. In Lisbon he was a victim of racism, finding himself abandoned and without references. The narrative depicts the unfolding of his experiences in light and shadow. From the leader of one of Lisbon's biggest and most profitable gangs, to prison inmate, followed by a period of homelessness. Today, at the age of 52, the Ninja, as he likes to be called, is known for his captivating artistic performances.
Film subtitled in Portuguese
Das Lehrerzimmer - The Theachers' Lounge, by Ilker Çatak, 98' (Germany)
Manoel de Oliveira Room; 7.15pm
Cinema: European Parliament Session
When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.
Film subtitled in Portuguese
Presentation of the exhibition “Polarização afetiva: causas e implicações para o sistema democrático” (Affective polarisation: causes and implications for the democratic system), with Filipe Pacheco, PhD researcher at ISCTE - IUL CIES
Foyer; 9.15pm
Talk
To request the talk to be interpreted into Portuguese Sign Language, please contact us in advance at participa.politica@gmail.com
Miss Universo
Room 2; 9.30pm
Concert
The band Miss Universo grow from its roots, but blossoms in the search for its seed.
For a long while now they’ve been peering out of the window and feeling increasingly detached from it. They watch passers-by and keep quiet. They watch others feeling like another nothingness. They see people living off the could-be-worse and the whatever attitude. Silent they have remained, but never at peace. A scream not just on stage, but on the stages they encounter. Without form, they do not conform to the conformism they see around them. And finally, when they can no longer stand being at home, they go out as best they can.
Created by André Ivo and Afonso Branco, the band made its debut with the single "Ser Português" and is now preparing their first album, to be released towards the end of the summer.
With interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language
4 April
Portugal desistiu? (Has Portugal given up?), with João Paulo Batalha
Foyer; 5.30pm
“Beers & Politics" talk
Paragraph j) of the Programme of the Armed Forces Movement, presented on 25 April 1974, identified "the effective fight against corruption" as an urgent matter for the new regime. 50 years later, corruption is the greatest threat to democracy. Has Portugal given up the fight? A relaxed conversation that marks the debut of the Beers & Politics format in Portugal.
João Paulo Batalha is vice-president of the Frente Cívica association, dedicated to defending issues of public interest, and a consultant in the areas of good governance, transparency and anti-corruption policies, as well as a columnist and lecturer on topics related to public integrity and civic participation. In 2010, he was one of the founders of Transparency International Portugal, the Portuguese member of the global network of anti-corruption NGOs known as Transparency International (present in more than 100 countries) and has served as its executive director and chairman of the board. He has a degree in History, with a minor in Historical and Political Sociology, from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
To request the talk to be interpreted into Portuguese Sign Language, please contact us in advance at participa.politica@gmail.com
Faz-te Ouvir (Make yourself heard)
Room 2; 6pm
"Make yourself heard" is an audiovisual project that aims to dismantle prejudices and stereotypes associated with the Roma community in Portugal. The goal is to give a voice to those who are often silenced, highlighting the diversity and uniqueness of each individual, and challenging the veracity of preconceived ideas. The project is being developed in partnership with the “Política pela Rizoma Festival”, an association that aims to increase the integration and social development of young people from the Roma community in Portugal, often involving their families and other ethnic-racial groups.
With interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language
Afinal quantas pessoas se abstêm em Portugal? (How many people actually abstain from voting in Portugal?)
Foyer; 6.30pm
Presentation
Official abstention figures consistently point to the low turnout of Portuguese voters. But are these figures a true reflection of reality? Presentation of the exhibition "How many people actually abstain in Portugal?" based on the study put together by João Cancela, José Santana Pereira and João Bernardo Narciso for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (FFMS).
To request the talk to be interpreted into Portuguese Sign Language, please contact us in advance at participa.politica@gmail.com
A cor da liberdade (The Colour of Freedom), by Júlio Pereira, 69' (Portugal)
Room 3; 7pm
Film and talk
A documentary based on the story of José Pedro Soares, a former political prisoner who was detained and tortured by PIDE between 1971 and 1974, which contextualises Portugal and its social reality at the time, through the memories of former political prisoners, historians, journalists and artists. A reflection on the struggle and different forms of resistance that we must learn about and preserve.
A reflection on the struggle and the different forms that resistance took, which we must urgently make ourselves aware of and preserve.
Film subtitled in Portuguese. After the screening, there will be a talk with José Pedro Soares and the production team, with interpretation in Portuguese sign language.
Luta Livre
Manoel de Oliveira Room; 21.30
Concert and conversation
After projects such as Peste & Sida, Despe e Siga or A Naifa, it is in Luta Livre that Luís Varatojo looks at society in a sharp way, making song his weapon. This 2024, it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution with a new show specially created for the occasion, with a strong visual impact, presenting live the themes from the albums “Técnicas de Combate” (2021) and “Defesa Pessoal” (2023) .
With interpretation into Portuguese Sign Language (LGP)
5 April
Sessão Corpos Políticos (Political Bodies Session)
Room 3; 5.30pm
Cinema
Filhas da Pátria (Daughters of the Homeland) by Catarina Almeida, 12 mins (Portugal)
In 1968, Inês, an 18-year-old homosexual woman, seeks her emancipation through student movements when she is prohibited from attending law school.
"Monte Clérigo," by Luís Campos, 28 mins (Portugal)
A teenager wastes his summer with forced labour in a forest watchtower, indifferent to the immigrant workers in the greenhouses that surround him.
"Please make it work," by Daniel Soares, 14 mins (Portugal and Switzerland)
Cláudia has to deal with a demanding boss, a teenage daughter, and the strong winds from the mountains while cleaning sophisticated Airbnbs in the Swiss Alps.
"Mistida," by Wilker Nhaga, 30 mins (Portugal)
A mother goes shopping, but finds the weight of the bags too much for her. She asks her son for help, who comes to help her carry the shopping home. On the way, they also deal with the issues weighing on their minds.
Films subtitled in Portuguese
A minha identidade é um insulto (My identity is an insult)
Room 2; 6.30pm
Performance-discussion
Comfort is a privilege, and living an identity can be an insult, it can be an aggression, it can be violence and also generate it. Living can be an act of resistance, it can be a political act, it can be activism. This is a performance/discussion in search of one's own space, the right to which continues to be denied. Understanding requires the humility to recognise the place of speaking and the place of listening. A conversation moderated by Barbara Pollastri.
With interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language.
O que importa é participar (It’s the taking part that counts) - Hugo Van Der Ding
Manoel de Oliveira Room; 9.30pm
Comedy
As we know, it’s the taking part that counts. Even if, at times, that means we don’t bring home the trophy. The History of Portugal is full of special acts of participation. Like that time when the priests got fed up with the king and sent him packing (1245). Or when the people of Lisbon threw the Bishop of Lisbon out of the Cathedral window (1383). Or that time when the spinners of Porto revolted against the King, who was Spanish (1629). Or when, in Brazil, Zumbi dos Palmares fought against the Portuguese (1695). Or when the workers at the Palace of Mafra stopped work until they were paid what they were owed (1732). Or when the fishermen of Olhão revolted against the French troops (1808). Or when a group of women from the North forcibly tried to bury an old lady in a church (1846). Or when the typesetters of a newspaper staged the first factory strike in Portugal (1849). Or when some cheating Chinese healers nearly brought down the Republic (1911). Or when there was fighting over the lack of potatoes (1917). Or when, in opposition to the Estado Novo dictatorship, a boat was hijacked (1961), a plane was hijacked (1961), and a bank was robbed (1967). It all ended fifty years ago, on a clean and clear first day (1974).
With interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language.
Over 18s session
Room 3; 11.15pm
Cinema
Will you come with me?, by Derya Durmaz, 2 mins(Germany)
A short story set in Berlin. The city that appears to be a land of freedom slaps you in the face when it comes to your most intimate relationships.
Fragments, by Marie-Lou Béland, 9 mins (Canada)
Women speak out to testify to moments of sexual violence. Fragments of experience that paint a social portrait.
Nadie se enamora en un cine porno, by Varinia Perusin, 9 mins (Argentina)
H. is an adult man who has frequented pornographic cinemas in Mar del Plata for most of his life. After a revealing experience, he reevaluates the way he relates to society.
Maghreb's hope, by Bassem Ben Brahim, 24 mins (Algeria, Brazil, Morocco and Tunisia)
Portraits of the experiences of queer people from the Maghreb, particularly Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. These are people who have courageously broken social taboos around their gender and sexuality, challenging legal, social and family systems.
Exhibitions
LGBT+ history in Portugal
A historical overview of the LGBT+ community in Portugal: the challenges it has faced over the years and the most important milestones in its ongoing struggle to win rights. Curated by Clube Rainbow
Afinal quantas pessoas se abstêm em Portugal? (How many people actually abstain from voting in Portugal?)
Official abstention figures consistently point to the low turnout of Portuguese voters. But are these figures a true reflection of reality? "How many people actually abstain from voting in Portugal?" is based on the study produced by João Cancela, José Santana Pereira and João Bernardo Narciso for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (FFMS), which assesses the scale and causes of technical abstention in the country, formulating concrete proposals for dealing with this phenomenon.
Polarização afetiva: causas e implicações para o sistema democrático (Affective polarisation: causes and implications for the democratic system)
The concept of affective polarisation was first studied in the United States over a decade ago. This exhibition is based on several papers that have been published on this phenomenon in various countries, including Portugal, revealing the causes and implications that affective polarisation has for the functioning of democratic systems. A point of view from Filipe Pacheco.
MulheresPPT (WomenPPT)
This exhibition is a celebration of the women who have played crucial roles on the Portuguese political scene, emphasising female leadership and their remarkable achievements in building democracy in our country. Curated by Associação Rua.