PRESS CONFERENCE
2025-03-10
MAIN ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES FROM THE 18TH EDITION
Rita Correia and Francisco Noras, directors of the Santarém International Film Festival, presented the highlights of the 18th edition at Casa do Brasil in Santarém. The event will take place from 21 to 26 May 2025.
The Santarém International Film Festival (FICS) returns from 21 to 26 May 2025, reaffirming its position as one of Portugal's most important independent film events. In its 18th edition, the festival continues to explore social and historical issues through cinema, bringing together national premieres, tributes, and debates centred on memory and identity.
Under the motto “Um festival da terra, pela Terra”, FICS renews its commitment to agricultural, rural, and environmental themes, positioning Santarém as a key hub for essential reflection on the planet’s history and future.
From past to present: a journey of cultural transformation
Founded in 1971, FICS has long been a cultural landmark, known for its role in energising the cinematic life of Santarém and the surrounding region. Between 1971 and 1989, the festival gained acclaim for the artistic quality of its programming, with a particular focus on agricultural, rural, and environmental themes. Recognised as one of the first international film festivals in Portugal, FICS is today a globally relevant event.
This year, the festival received a record-breaking 320 film submissions from 43 countries — a clear sign of its growing international presence.
Screenings will take place at Teatro Sá da Bandeira in Santarém and will also extend to neighbouring municipalities, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to decentralising access to cinema and promoting film culture.
Expansion
FICS is expanding beyond Santarém, bringing its May Warm-Up Screenings and award-winning films from the 18th edition to several cities in the region, including Alpiarça and Almeirim, promoting cultural decentralisation.
Educational Project | Rebentos e Sementes (Sprouts and Seeds)
The FICS Educational Project reflects the belief that cinema is an essential tool for fostering a more critical, informed, and tolerant citizenship.
With activities designed for various age groups — from 4 to 18 years old, as well as for teachers and educators — this year’s programme will reach Almeirim, Alpiarça, Cartaxo, Rio Maior, and Santarém, further broadening its territorial scope.
Partnerships and Support
FICS 2025 is made possible thanks to the support of a wide range of public and private institutions, including the Municipality of Santarém, the Union of Parishes of Santarém, the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA), the Portuguese Cinematheque, Castello Lopes Cinemas, the Commission for the 50th Anniversary of the 25th of April, and Ephemera – Library and Archive of José Pacheco Pereira.
At the regional level, the festival also collaborates with CNEMA, the Municipalities of Almeirim, Alpiarça, Rio Maior and Cartaxo, as well as the Vale do Tejo Vocational School and the Agrarian School of Santarém (ESAS).
In the wine and gastronomy sector, notable partners include CVR Tejo, AMPV, and Ode Winery.
Logistics and mobility support from Rodoviária do Tejo, Vila Graça, Restaurante Amassa, UMU, and KOOK also play an essential role in the festival’s success.
Media coverage will be provided by RTP 2, Antena 1, Antena 2, Antena 3, the Cinema em Portugal platform and Canal Q, helping to amplify the voice of independent cinema.
Highlights of the 2025 Edition
Closing Screening – Muyeres, by Marta Lallana
(National Premiere)
Debates and Exhibitions
IN FOCUS: 50 Years of Agrarian Reform
A special section dedicated to the social, economic, and cultural impact of Agrarian Reform in Portugal.
Exhibition by Ephemera – Library and Archive of José Pacheco Pereira
A documentary showcase exploring the historical and political repercussions of this pivotal moment.
Round Table by the Commission for the 50th Anniversary of the 25th of April
A debate featuring filmmakers, historians, and cultural figures discussing the transformations brought about by the Agrarian Reform.
Cinema and Gastronomic Experiences
Cinema at the Table – Screening of The Bread (1959), by Manoel de Oliveira.
This year, for the first time, there will be two Cinema at the Table sessions: one featuring a special dinner at Ode Winery, in Vila Chã de Ourique, and the other at Teatro Sá da Bandeira, accompanied by a sourdough masterclass and tasting session.