WINNERS

Ribatejo applauds authentic cinema

FICS 2025: the Earth’s heartbeat on the big screen

The Festival Internacional de Cinema de Santarém is, above all, a festival of the Earth, by the Earth. It is a space where the seventh art unveils the complexity of our world: from labour to nature, from industry to environmental preservation, from climate change to traditions and rural life. Here, the gestures of the land come to life on the big screen, exploring what endures and what evolves.

On the penultimate day – 25 May – the winners of the 18th edition were announced, with awards presented by the Mayor of Santarém, João Teixeira Leite, the Councillor for Culture, Nuno Domingos, and the FICS co-directors, Rita Correia and Francisco Noras.

Best National Film – Cacho de Ouro Award

'Percebes', by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves

Jury’s comments: “Technically well executed, the film adopts a stance free from moralism or simplistic dichotomies. It offers multiple facets of a local reality, without melodrama and with charm. Starting from an unusually rock-like crustacean, the documentary immerses us in the complex bond that seasonal small-business workers have with their territory, giving them a voice and wrapping them in lively, dignified and joyful animation. Although deeply rooted in a specific locale, this reality bears a universal resonance, underpinned by a strong visual component and a richly original soundscape.”

Best International Film – Cacho de Ouro Award

'Koki, Ciao', by Quenton Miller

Jury’s comments: “Is memory a fiction? What traces does it leave, and what do they imply? These questions emerge amid a playful portrait of past and present, both imprisoned, echoing what reality might have been. Gently, the line between memory and trauma begins to blur as we confront the tyrannical environment in which they were formed. The film’s immersive form and profound creativity make it truly outstanding.”

Honourable Mention

'Quando a Terra Foge', by Frederico Lobo

Jury’s comments: “The film strikes a fine balance between landscape and character. We were particularly drawn to its captivating opening, which heralds what follows: a coherent narrative free of clichés. It belongs to a powerful tradition in Portuguese cinema that intertwines historical and mythical time with the force of local culture (as symbolic as it is material) in a mysterious, unpredictable rural setting. There is a profound connection to nature and its power, and a lifestyle that is simple and harsh, persisting even though its future is uncertain.”

Special Jury Prize – Feira Nacional da Agricultura

'Blueberry Dreams', by Elene Mikaberidze

Jury’s comments: “In this film, agriculture becomes a symbol of hope. A family is portrayed during a period of change and learning, and a warm gaze follows the growth cycles of plants and children alike. In the background, and in contrast to this family’s harmony, unfolds war, territorial conflicts, agricultural funding policies and issues of product distribution. The documentary’s delicate sensitivity and its interplay of the personal and the political are truly remarkable.”

Special Audience Prize

'O Diabo do Entrudo', by Diogo Varela Silva

For the first time, FICS introduced an Audience Prize, allowing viewers to vote after each screening and underscoring the vital participation of those who watch, feel and live cinema alongside us.

Through this ceremony, FICS 2025 reaffirms its status as a showcase of excellence for works rooted in the land and speaking to the world, illuminating memories, environmental challenges and the transformative strength of rural communities.