The 15th edition of the Portuguese Short Film Festival (NYPSFF) takes place on May 21, 2025, at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The festival, organized by the Arte Institute, is a prominent annual event in New York City that showcases contemporary Portuguese cinema. Established in 2011, the festival aims to promote Portuguese culture and provide a platform for Portuguese filmmakers to present their work to international audiences.
The 2025 edition features a selection of nine short films encompassing fiction, documentary, and animation genres. Notable entries included:
Before the Moon Rises (Antes do Nascer da Lua) – Directed by Mário Patrocínio, this film portrays a family of three women striving to survive in a world facing water scarcity.
Anchor (Âncora) – Helder Faria’s work blurs the lines between documentary and fiction, focusing on the intersection of two women’s lives at a food bank.
T-Zero – An animated short by Vicente Niró that explores themes of tourism and gentrification.
Growing Through It (Crescer à Força) – A stop-motion fable co-directed by Artur Correia, Felipe Kenji, and Sofia Almeida, depicting a cathartic conversation among three friends.
The Draw (O Sorteio) – Directed by Lourenço Barjona and Lucas Torres, this dystopian narrative centers on a society where a monthly lottery determines who must die due to resource scarcity.
First Date (Primeiro Encontro) – A romantic comedy by Luís Filipe Borges.
Waltz on the Moon (Valsa na Lua) – Francisco de Assis’s film delves into the challenges faced by a young adult.
The Immovable Structure (A Estrutura Imóvel) – Juliana Julieta’s piece, filmed during a protest in New York, critiques transphobic feminism.
These films reflect a diverse range of storytelling, highlighting the creativity and depth of contemporary Portuguese cinema.
Beyond its New York premiere, the NYPSFF is an itinerant festival, bringing Portuguese short films to audiences worldwide. In 2025, screenings were scheduled in various U.S. cities, including Providence, Rhode Island; New Bedford; San Francisco; Sausalito; Berkeley; San Diego; and Fall River. Internationally, the festival extended to countries such as Germany, Hungary, Australia, Croatia, China, France, India, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, East Timor, and Cape Verde. ️ About the Arte Institute
The Arte Institute, founded in 2011 by Ana Ventura Miranda, is a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Portuguese art and culture. Through events like the NY Portuguese Short Film Festival, the institute provides a platform for Portuguese artists across various disciplines, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation.
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PAJ/Staff
