NICOLE SUARES
March began with the vibrant Carnival festivities, a Portuguese legacy in Goa. Now, film lovers can immerse themselves in another cultural celebration, exploring the works of talented filmmakers from Portugal and Brazil.
The festival, jointly hosted by the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa and the Camoes Portuguese Language Centre in Panjim, also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution.
Running until March 16, 2025 the XIII Lusophone Film Festival 2025 offers a rich selection of biographies and documentaries. Featured personalities include Edila and Pundalika Gaitonde, Sita Valles, Salgueiro Maia, Alvaro Cunhal, Carlos Paredes, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Jose Cardoso Pires, and Luis Vaz de Camoes.
The 12-film lineup also includes dramas and fictional narratives that highlight the cultural and historical dimensions of Lusophone nations.
Themes such as freedom, democracy, equality, anti-discrimination efforts, and human rights resonate throughout, fostering unity among diverse cultures and geographies.
The 12-film lineup also includes dramas and fictional narratives that highlight the cultural and historical dimensions of Lusophone nations.
EXPANDING THE REACH
At the festival's inauguration, the director of CLP, Delfim Correia da Silva, remarked, “Saturday marks International Women’s Day, and we are screening three impactful films on equal rights and opportunities."
"Unlike previous shorter editions, this year’s festival (March 10-16) extends to multiple venues, including the Camoes Portuguese Language Centre in Panjim; Goa University in Taleigao; Parvatibai Chowgule College in Margao; and Shivaji University in Kolhapur,” he mentioned.
This edition also sees a collaboration with FESTin, a Luso-Brazilian organisation, bringing two Brazilian films, Pureza and Porto Príncipe, to the ongoing festival. Discussions are also underway for a dedicated film festival later in 2025 to bring films from more Luso-speaking nations.
Key festival partners for the current festival include the Portuguese Language Traveling Film Festival, the Portuguese Cinemateca, and the Camoes Institute for Cooperation and Language, alongside the supporting higher education institutions.
This edition also sees a collaboration with FESTin, a Luso-Brazilian organisation, bringing two Brazilian films, Pureza and Porto Príncipe, to the ongoing festival.
CINEMATIC JOURNEY
The festival commenced with As Macas Azuis (2023), a documentary by Ricardo Leito chronicling the life of Edila Gaitonde, an Azorean writer, pianist and anti-colonial activist.
She was married to Indian doctor, Pundalika Gaitonde, founder of the Goa National Congress and Goa’s first representative in the Indian Parliament post-integration.
Another compelling story is that of Goan activist, Sita Valles, featured in Margarida Cardoso’s documentary screening on Saturday.
Valles, an anti-colonial activist and Communist Party member, played a key role in Angola’s liberation movement. The film was an official selection at the 2022 IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival.
Valles, an anti-colonial activist and Communist Party member, played a key role in Angola’s liberation movement. The film was an official selection at the 2022 IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival.
From Brazil, Pureza (2022) portrays a mother’s desperate search for her son in the 1990s.
On Sunday, Vadio (2022) follows 13-year-old Andre and his father, who drill wells in the arid Alentejo region. When his father disappears, Andre turns to his neighbor Sandra for help.
Classic Portuguese cinema is also featured with Os Verdes Anos (1963), which tells the story of 19-year-old Julio, a shoemaker in Lisbon, who falls for a young housemaid, Ilda. Their romance faces the harsh realities of the world, culminating in an unforgettable drama.
DETAILS
WHAT: XIII Lusophone Film Festival
WHERE: Camoes Portuguese Language Centre (Panjim), Goa University (Taleigao Plateau), Parvatibai Chowgule College (Margao), Shivaji University (Kolhapur)
WHEN: March 6 – March 16
TIMINGS: 2.30 pm onwards
CONTACT: +91 7030655664 or e-mail clpgoa@gmail.com