8th Moinho Cine Fest celebrates freedom in Custóias

The selection of films for this edition, 41 films from 16 countries, reflects the spirit of freedom.

The 8th edition of Moinho Cine Fest, an international film festival, will take place on 17, 18, 24 and 25 April at 9 p.m. in the Vila de Custóias Auditorium in Custóias. Admission is free for all sessions.

This year, the festival celebrates not only cinema, but also freedom, a value that has been called into question in various parts of the world today. It will mark the 52nd anniversary of the 25 April Revolution, when, in 1974, a movement of young captains put an end, in less than 24 hours, to more than four decades of dictatorship in Portugal, paving the way for democracy and freedom of expression.

The selection of films for this edition – 41 films from 16 countries, chosen from 346 entries from 47 countries – reflects this spirit of freedom. Cinema is the art that celebrates the freedom to create, to imagine, to question and to give voice to what so often remains invisible.

Starting with this edition, Moinho Cine Fest also pays tribute to Álvaro Martins, master of the Portuguese guitar and native of Padrão da Légua, in Custóias, by naming the Best Film award after him. With a career that began in childhood and was marked by decades of dedication to music, he accompanied great names in fado such as Amália Rodrigues and Fernando Farinha and left behind more than a hundred published works as a Portuguese guitar player, composer and lyricist. A symbol of rigour, sensitivity and artistic authenticity, he projected Portuguese culture beyond borders. The awarding of his name to the prize celebrates this journey of excellence and inspires filmmakers to pursue the same creative integrity that defined his work.

The jury for the 8th edition is composed of José Paulo Santos, professor, filmmaker and film programmer; João Rita, director of the Arouca Film Festival, president of the Cine Clube de Arouca, programmer and promoter of Portuguese cinema; and Maria Adrover, deputy director of the Arouca Film Festival, vice-president of the Cine Clube de Arouca, screenwriter and journalist. Six cash prizes will be awarded, in addition to the payment of screening fees to all films in competition.

The 8th edition of Moinho Cine Fest received the EFFE 2026-2027 label, a distinction awarded by the European Festivals Association (EFA) with the support of the European Commission and the European Parliament. This recognition highlights the quality, cultural impact and commitment of European festivals to artistic excellence.

Moinho Cine Fest is organised by ANARTEM – Associação Cultural, under the direction of filmmaker André Almeida Rodrigues, and promoted by the Custóias Parish Council. It has the institutional support of the Matosinhos City Council and the collaboration of ALADI – Lavrense Association for the Support of the Intellectually Disabled, whose users will create the trophies for the Álvaro Martins awards – Best Film, Best International Film and Best National Film.