Thursday, May 31------The 23rd edition of Festroia: Festival Internacional de Cinema, which opens tomorrow evening in the seaside resort of Setubal, Portugal,  is dedicated to Festival founder Mario Ventura, who passed away last year. Ventura founded the Festival in 1985 after a celebrated career in both Portugal and Spain as a respected journalist and writer. He had published more than fifteen books, including short stories, novels and biographical works. The Public Library in Setubal, where the Festival is held, is a hosting a tribute to the man and the artist, showcasing photos and texts of this unique man, who was a lover of the written word and the visual image.

Born in Lisbon in 1936, he became one of Portugal's most respected journalists, eventually working as a correspondent for the Spanish press in Portugal. He was elected President of the Portugese Association of Writers in the 1990s. He had a dual interest in the power of the visual media, and founded the Festival as a showcase of international cinema and a forum to discuss issues of cultural, social and political importance. Ventura passed away last June, too ill to attend the Festival. He was 70 years old. The Festival is now in the capable hands of his collaborator Fernanda Silva, a well respected and well liked figure on the international film circuit, who brings a sense of commitment and enthusiasm to continue Ventura's work.

This year, the Festival will present nearly 150 films from all over the world, and welcome filmmakers, distributors, programmers and journalists from more than 30 countries. Films compete in the Official Selection (from film countries producing fewer than 25 films per year), as well as in the categories of First Works, American Independent Cinema and Man And His Environment. The Festival is also hosting a Tribute To Spanish Cinema, as well as a retrospective program of the films of Billy Wilder and early German cinema. The Festival also supports local filmmakers by presenting a showcase of Portugese Cinema of the past year. 

The Festival is set in the picturesque seaside resort of Setubal, about 40 kilometers south of Lisbon. This rare setting on Portugal's Costa Azul (the blue coast) makes this an event that is not only rewarding cinematographically, but also allows visitors to mingle with local residents and learn more about Portugese customs and cultures. Ventura's spirit lives in the continued dynamism and purpose of this Festival.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Online Dailies Editor