The Mostra de Cinema Açoriano, taking place from December 13 to 21, with a second phase from January 20 to 25, 2026, is deemed vital for showcasing the talents and works of Azorean filmmakers. Artistic Director Sofia Caetano emphasizes the festival’s importance as a platform for young filmmakers to present their films.
Caetano highlights the event as a source of inspiration and connection to independent cinema and other aspects of the seventh art, saying that aspiring filmmakers can engage deeply with the medium. The festival was unveiled today in Ponta Delgada for its second edition.
The training component of the festival is crucial, according to Caetano, to help young filmmakers develop and overcome the geographical challenges of the island, fostering an environment where skills can be honed.
This film showcase is not only significant for local talent but also for attracting international audiovisual and cinema professionals who share their expertise with local creators, notes Caetano.
The goal is for the festival to enhance filmmaking “production with better conditions,” with a strategy developed by the Cinema and Audiovisual Group already submitted to the Azorean Government.
Caetano and her team aim for continuous growth of the festival, intending to invite internationally significant personalities to encourage external participation.
The upcoming edition of the festival will emphasize training through a new project, applying for public support in collaboration with the University of the Azores, and contemplating creation grants for young directors with private backing.
The festival team, which includes members of the Cinema and Audiovisual Group of the Azores, acknowledges the limited local production and few independent producers. Projects from outside tend to engage minimally with regional enterprises, highlighting the need for increased financial investment.
Renowned director Werner Herzog is set to participate in the Azorean festival, thanks to a partnership with the Spanish production company Extática Cine. Herzog will serve on a jury for fiction and documentary feature films and deliver a two-hour masterclass following a screening of his latest documentary, “Ghost Elephants,” which premiered at the 82nd International Venice Film Festival.
The competition will feature around 200 films from various countries and 50 filmmakers. The jury for the short fiction and documentary categories includes Marc Vila, Paulina Martinez, and Héctor Ulloque Franco.
João Gonzalez and Inês Teixeira will judge the animated short films, while Luís Banrezes and Balada Brassado will assess music videos and short films.
