LEFFEST presents another edition of the International Meeting of Film Schools, bringing together students from three institutions representing different countries and cinematic traditions: ESTC – Lisbon Theatre and Film School, Portugal; INSAS – Institut Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle et des Techniques de Diffusion, Belgium; and ENAC – Escuela Nacional de Artes Cinematográficas, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
The programme includes a competition of short films produced by students as part of their studies. The winning film will receive the João Milagre Award, named in memory of the former director of ESTC, who passed away earlier this year. The jury responsible for selecting the winning film comprises director Sérgio Graciano, British actress Lily Cole and Danish film editor Anders Refn.
From ESTC, the films presented will be Crescer na Terra, by Alison Maranha, Quelle Soif!, by Francisco João, and Reaping Cherries, by Clara Parente. INSAS will present Nothing Sleeps, by Soleysa Taleb, Looking for the lost tail of humankind, by Sofia Cecere, and Two Souls, by Cecili Matureli and Avril Poirier. Finally, ENAC will present The Sound of the Jaguar, by Antónia Sofía Silva Alvarado, and Tlön, by Sebastián R. R.
The meeting also features a series of free-admission masterclasses, offering opportunities for exchange and reflection on a central question: what does it mean to study cinema today? Bringing together different approaches to film education, pedagogical practices and perspectives on filmmaking, the initiative fosters dialogue between students and film professionals.
The International Meeting of Film Schools takes place on 10 and 11 November at 11 am, at Cinema Medeia Nimas. On 10 November, films from ENAC and ESTC will be screened, followed by films from INSAS on 11 November. The closing ceremony will take place on 12 November at 7 pm, at Teatro do Bairro, featuring a screening of the winning film, a roundtable discussion and a tribute to João Milagre.