‘Pulp Fiction’ Star Gets Major Tribute

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Portugal is representing itself as the “Country of Honor” at the 40th Guadalajara Film Festival, sending over a multitude of filmmakers such as producers, directors, and actors. As part of the festival’s concluding event, there will be a tribute paid to Portuguese actress and director Maria de Medeiros.

Estrella Araiza, Guadalajara’s general director, points out that Portugal is part of the Ibero-American community and emphasizes the significance of having many Portuguese participants, as we are a Spanish-speaking country,” explains the statement.

I strongly believe that Portuguese cinema has the potential to strengthen its bonds with Latin America. It possesses a unique empathy towards nations beyond the European Union, making this connection quite special and valuable. Each Portuguese film I’ve encountered delves into intricate human predicaments and feelings. In these times of global upheaval, conflict, and strife, it seems crucial to revisit fundamental human concerns.

Maria de Medeiros is set to conduct a workshop where she’ll discuss her career, particularly focusing on her directorial debut, “Captains of April” (2000), which centers around Portugal’s 1974 revolution. Moreover, seasoned film producer Paulo Branco will lead another workshop centered on the theme of “The Freedom to Make Films.

João Gonzalez and Regina Pessoa will conduct workshops on animation. João Gonzalez will share insights about his Oscar-nominated short film “Ice Merchants,” while Regina Pessoa will delve into her creative journey, highlighting works like “The Night,” “Tragic Story with Happy Ending,” “Kali, the Little Vampire,” and “Uncle Thomas, Accounting for the Days.

Araiza expresses her long-standing admiration for Regina Pessoa’s career, adding, ‘It’s truly exciting to bring Portuguese animation directors into our animation industry in Jalisco.’ She believes that both industries possess a shared delicacy and anticipates a harmonious collaboration, stating, ‘I think it will be an excellent fit!'”

“Araiza voices her admiration for Regina Pessoa’s career, commenting, ‘It’s fantastic to have Portuguese animation directors interact with our animation industry here in Jalisco.’ She feels that both industries share a similar nuanced approach and is optimistic about the partnership, saying, ‘I believe it will prove to be a very successful combination!’

A grand total of 38 Portuguese movies, spanning categories like short films, full-length features, animations, and documentaries, are set to be showcased at the festival’s diverse sections.

In total, there are 38 Portuguese films being showcased across different sections of the festival, such as shorts, features, animation, and documentaries. Ten of these films are competing in various competitions.

In competition for the best Ibero-American documentary are Paulo Carneiro’s “Savanna and the Mountain”, Albert Serra’s “Tardes de Soledad”, and Takashi Sugimoto’s “Black Gold”. Meanwhile, Justin Amorim’s “Flying Carpet” is in contention for the best Ibero-American short film. Furthermore, two Portuguese films – Paula Tomás Marques’ “Twice João Liberated” and Justine Lemahieu’s “Them, Fado Bicha” – are up for the Maguey Award, which honors LGBTQ cinema. Lastly, Salvador Gil’s “Rogéria” is in the running for the Youth Jury Award.

Luis Chaby Vaz, the head of Portugal’s Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA), has been in attendance and has just been given the role of executive secretary at the Conference of Ibero-American Film Boards (CACI).

According to Chaby Vaz, Guadalajara is eager to draw big crowds to its film screenings, and this presents a great chance for our movies. He found their selection process quite intriguing because it covers various time periods, ranging from our most renowned directors (some of whom have passed away) to fresh productions that will make their debut at the festival.

Portugal is part of Ibermedia, has a collaborative film-making arrangement with Brazil, and a co-development pact with Uruguay. A special gathering specifically for Portuguese and Latin American filmmakers to collaborate will take place on June 7th. At this event, director Gonçalo Galvão Teles will present “Rebeldia” within FICG’s Co-production program, while Filipe Bessa Vieira will showcase “Rua Gisberta” in the Episode 0 sidebar.

At the Guadalajara festival, Portuguese films being showcased feature collaborations between Portugal and Latin America. One such movie is “Dreaming with Lions,” directed by Greek-Portuguese filmmaker Paolo Marinou-Blanco, which is vying for the best Ibero-American fiction feature film award. Additionally, there’s “The Memory of Butterflies,” directed by Peruvian filmmaker Tatiana Fuentes Sadowsk.

The Guadalajara festival is screening Portuguese films that were produced in partnership with Latin America, such as the movie “Dreaming with Lions” by director Paolo Marinou-Blanco of Greek and Portuguese descent, who is competing for the best Ibero-American fiction feature film. Another film is “The Memory of Butterflies,” directed by Peruvian filmmaker Tatiana Fuentes Sadowsk.

I’m thrilled to share that my country, Portugal, has been eager to amplify its presence in prestigious film festivals. Last year, we were privileged to hold the position of Country of Honor at the Annecy Animation Festival. In this esteemed event, we proudly showcased one of our most dynamic and thriving sectors – our filmmaking industry.

Chaby Vaz states that Portugal, being a mid-sized European nation, is deeply dedicated to collaborative production. This approach not only expands our creative possibilities but also boosts our financial resources, ensuring a more efficient distribution process.

In addition to Portugal’s presence at Guadalajara, you’ll find an exciting culinary event featuring top Portuguese chef, Kiko, as well as a café concert starring the acclaimed Fado Bicha band.

An upcoming event will highlight Nuno Beato’s stop-motion animated film “My Grandfather’s Demons,” which made its global debut at the 2022 Annecy festival, alongside a display called “Portugal as Art,” featuring scenic spots from Portugal.

Ana Marques, the director of Portugal Film Commission, explains that Mexico is a critical market for us in relation to film productions and tourism on a larger scale. She will be attending as well. To highlight the variety of our locations, 17 billboards outside the festival building will display our diverse settings – not just for the general public, but also for Latin American producers whom we aim to collaborate with through co-productions.

Chaby Vaz states that this situation presents a special chance for our sector. It facilitates stronger connections between our creators and performers and producers from Latin America, particularly those in Mexico, who are truly outstanding.

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2025-06-06 20:47