Mario Martone is the President of the Jury of LEFFEST 2024

22.10.2024

At the 18th edition of LEFFEST - Lisbon Film Festival, we are pleased to announce a prestigious jury led by Italian director Mario Martone. This marks the third time that Martone, one of the most notable filmmakers in Italian cinema in recent decades, with a multifaceted and widely acclaimed career spanning film, theater, and opera, participates in the festival, reinforcing a deep connection with LEFFEST.

Official Selection — In Competition

Alongside Mario Martone will be Jonás Trueba, a key figure of the new generation of Spanish filmmakers; Romanian director Adina Pintilie, known for her unique filmography and winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Festival in 2018; Iranian choreographer and filmmaker Amir Hosseinpour, who has collaborated with renowned figures, such as Karl Lagerfeld and Philip Glass; and Felipe Oliveira Baptista, a Portuguese designer and artist whose work has significantly influenced the fashion industry, having led brands such as Lacoste and Kenzo.

Twelve films make up the Official Selection – In Competition, vying for the Grand Prize NOS.

Discoveries

The Discoveries section, dedicated to new filmmakers with lesser-known backgrounds to the Portuguese audience, will feature a jury comprising Estrella Araiza, director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival; Carmo Afonso, screenwriter, lawyer, and columnist, known for her incisive commentary on political and social issues; and João Jaime Pires, a distinguished professor recognized for his humanistic and cultural educational projects.

International Meeting of Film Schools

LEFFEST will resume the International Film School Meetings, a competition of short films produced by students from some of the most prestigious film schools in the world. Each invited school will present two films, and the directors/students will be present to introduce them to the audience. The participating schools include EICTV (Cuba), UCLA (USA), La Fémis (France), and ESTC (Portugal).

The jury awarding the Best Short Film prize will include prominent figures: Billy Woodberry, one of the founders of the L.A. Rebellion movement and also a professor (who will premiere his new film Mário at LEFFEST); German producer and director Frieder Schlaich; and internationally acclaimed Portuguese actress and performer Isabél Zuaa. The shorts will be screened at Liceu Camões, and entry will be free. The awards ceremony and a discussion on the current state of studying cinema will take place on November 15 at Cinema São Jorge.