The 4th edition of PORTO FEMME - INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL comes to an end, after six days of film screenings, workshops, tributes, debates, a performance, and an exhibition. The closing ceremony, which took place on Tuesday evening, October 5th at the Trindade Cinema, is marked by the disclosure of the directors, the film’s themes, languages and narratives.
 
On the international scene, it was the feature film "Song without a name" by Melina León, which won the prize for best film. "Camille and I" by Marie Cogné was the short film which won in the fiction category, but the jury also gave an special mention to "Synthetic love" by Sarah Heitz de Chabaneix.
 
In the international competition, "Way of Sylvie" by Verica Pospíšilová Kordić won first place in the animation category. Also "S p a c e s" by Nora Štrbová leaves the festival with an honorable mention. "The art of living in danger" by Mina Keshavarz, was elected the best documentary. The jury also highlighted "Visions of Copacabana - a brief trilogy of chance" by Rita Brás, and "Street out" by Sofía Rocha with an special mention. From the selection of experimental films, "See again" by Raquel Gandra, was the jury's favourite. Françoise Miquelis was considered the best actress for her unique performance in "Synthetic love" by Sarah Heitz de Chabaneix.
 
On the national scene, the best film award went to Denise Fernandes, for the short film "Nha Mila". "Elo" by Alexandra Ramires (Xá) was considered the best animation film. As best documentary, the jury elected "Entre leiras", by Cláudia Ribeiro, and left an honourable mention to "A rainha", by Lúcia Pires.
 
In the "Students" competition, introduced in the second edition of Porto Femme, as a space to exhibit the first cinematographic works of young Portuguese and foreign students, "Shedding Skin" by Katherina Harder Sacre, was awarded as best fiction short film. Ana Santos Carvalho also received an special mention, for her work in "(In)quietude". In the animation category, "Chocolate" by Lili Zhang was elected best short film. The jury also highlighted the film "Mãos de lã" by Ananda Justino and Jéssica Oliveira. As far as documentaries are concerned, the highlight goes to "Clémente" by Nino Defontaine; an special mention was also given to "The Gallery", by Cordula Rieger. Regarding the selection of experimental films, "Just like the films" by Sara Santos, was the jury's favourite, but also "My wind is the north" by Mariana Silveira, received an special mention.
 
As for the "XX Element" competition, the winning film was "In debt to all Women" by María Lobo and Roi Guitián. An special mention was also given to "In all kinds of weather" by Constanze Alma Wouters and Rob Jacobs
 
The Women's Rights and Struggles Prize, awarded since the first edition, went to "Camille and I" by Marie Cogné. The films "The art of living in danger" by Mina Keshavarz, "Mujereando. The lament of a goddess" by Carmen Tamayo Leo and "Polyphony - women in audiovisual" by Thais Robaina also receive an special mention.
 
In the thematic competition introduced in this edition of Porto Femme, "Letter to my mother" by Amina Maher, was awarded best film. Begoña Arostegui also received an honourable mention, for her work in "Me".
 
The Porto Femme - International Film Festival took place between September 30th and October 5th, in several spaces in the city of Porto: Trindade Cinema, Casa Comum da Reitoria da Universidade do Porto, Zero Box Lodge, Selina, Maus Hábitos - Espaço de Intervenção Cultural and Casa das Associações. 28 directors and filmmakers, from different latitudes and longitudes attended the festival.
 
This year we had two workshops, "Fixing memories: the documentary as a process of writing the self" directed by Patrícia Nogueira, which resulted in 12 films, and "Stop-motion animation workshop" directed by Patrícia Nogueira, which resulted in film that will be divulgated in our social media.