The event, promoted by Cooperativa Nascente in various venues across Aveiro district and the Porto Metropolitan Area, introduces a new segment titled ‘All Aboard’. This initiative aims to showcase the creative wealth and formal diversity of contemporary animation, emphasizing hybrid visual intersections and promoting a dynamic and pluralistic vision.
For the festival’s overall selection, 110 films from 25 countries were chosen. Although the total number of submissions remains undisclosed, the organization notes that the jury’s selection focuses on the vitality and diversity of global animation, with continued emphasis on discovering new talents and highlighting exceptional national works.
In this context, the international short film competition features 30 films, including several international co-productions and three Portuguese productions: ‘Cão Sozinho’ by Marta Reis Andrade, ‘Porque Hoje é Sábado’ by Alice Eça Guimarães, and ‘Sequencial’ by Bruno Caetano.
The feature film competition will recognize the best among five selected works, although their titles are yet to be announced.
The national competition will award the António Gaio Prize to the best of the eight selected works. These include the three Portuguese shorts mentioned earlier, as well as ‘Maleza’ by Carina Pierro Corso, ‘Pietra’ by Cynthia Levitan, ‘Saudade, talvez…’ by José-Manuel Xavier, ‘SweetSpot’ by Jorge Ribeiro and Paulo Patrício, and ‘The Hunt’ by Diogo Costa.
The 2025 Cinanima also sees the participation of 23 student films from Europe and countries such as Chile, China, and Singapore, affirming the festival’s significance as a platform for emerging filmmakers. Additionally, 28 works by young filmmakers compete, divided into sections for directors under 18 years old and those aged 18 to 30.
The Cinanima organization highlights that these competitive sections for younger filmmakers are particularly notable as they historically provide fertile ground for new creators using animation as a tool for artistic expression.
