The cinema sessions will be focused only on the film “Ice Merchants”, by João Gonzalez, and the ticket price will be “more accessible”.
The Oscar-nominated film “Ice Merchants”, by João Gonzalez, will open in cinemas in Portugal on February 16, Cinemundo revealed on Tuesday.
The premiere will take place on the commercial circuit, in a “model of cinema exploration in an innovative theater in Portugal”, which is still being finalized with the exhibitors, a source from the distributor told Lusa news agency.
According to Cinemundo, the movie sessions will be focused only on João Gonzalez’s film and the ticket price will be “more accessible”.
For the first time, there is a Portuguese-produced film in the nominees for the Oscar film awards, with “Ice Merchants” among the candidates for the Best Animated Short Film award.
Last week, the director of the Short Film Agency, Miguel Dias, told Lusa news agency that “the best model and the best option” was being prepared to show João Gonzalez’ film on the commercial circuit.
“It’s convenient to make the film available to people now, and we’d like it to happen before the ceremony” of the Oscars, scheduled for March 12, he said.
The Short Film Agency, a structure created in 1999 to divulge Portuguese short films, already ensures international distribution and sales of “Ice Merchants” to other countries, explained Miguel Dias.
João Gonzalez’ film had its world premiere in May 2022 at the Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a jury award, opening doors to a hundred other film festivals around the world, where it was also awarded.
“Ice Merchants” continues its journey through festivals, having been part of IndieJunior, which ended on Sunday in Porto, and is on the program of the Clermont-Ferrand Festival, taking place in France.
In February it will be in two festivals in France and in two others in Belgium, according to the Short Film Agency.