Talks #5 – What can festivals do for films?

Cultural Centre Požega – Movie Theatre
Sunday, August 24, 2025
05:00 pm

Free Entrance

 

Even though there is an ever-increasing amount of film festivals across the planet, and their inscription as relevant elements in the life of films is undeniable, there are also misunderstandings and doubts about their role. On the one hand, festivals feel like the ultimate spaces of legitimation, holding a power that seems to be bigger than what they can be accountable for. On the other hand, they can be places where inspiration, companionship, and a collective construction of our film community and industry can be fostered.

This talk will take place from the point of view of programmers, trying to decode some programming practices and questions that can help filmmakers understand how their films can be served by the different festivals that exist. We will reflect on the artistic, political, and economic aspects of programming, and try to understand how to think strategically once a film is ready to exist in the world. We will also look at these events in a wider context where many more elements come to the picture and offer possible avenues for the future of cinephilia and of the industry.

This Talks session is supported by MEDIA Desk – Creative Europe Serbia and Embassy of Portugal in Belgrade.

Speaker: Cíntia Gil (Portugal), festival programmer