The FAMILY FILM PROJECT - Archive, Memory, Ethnography International Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Porto, having been increasing its visibility and internationalization since the first edition in 2012.

The competitive programming sessions are traditionally divided into three thematic areas: Lives and Places (with a focus on the voyeuristic, biographical or documental record of habitats and everyday life), Connections (focused on interpersonal and community dynamics) and Memory and Archive (dedicated to creative approaches from testimonies and found footage).

The festival welcomes films of different genres in its competition section, from documentary to experimental, from short films to feature films. Whether through ethnographic cinema, archival or found-footage cinema, “home movies”, the various forms of experimental cinema or the hybridization between cinema and the performing arts, the Family Film Project seeks to highlight the challenges of cinema in its testimonial and artistic double facet.

The festival program always reserves a prominent space for internationally renowned film theorists, directors and invited artists, such as Jonas Mekas (2012), Péter Forgács (2013), Alina Marazzi (2015), João Canijo (2016), Regina Guimarães (2017), Bill Nichols (2018), Daniel Blaufuks (2018), Jaimie Baron (2019), Cláudia Varejão (2019), Harun Farocki (2020), Ruben Östlund (2021), Catarina Alves Costa (2022), among others.

In addition to film screenings, the Family Film Project organizes various types of parallel cultural events: exhibitions and installations (which may extend beyond the festival date), film concerts, performances in different locations around the city (Private Collection), masterclasses, conferences and book releases focused on the aesthetic and anthropological dimension of cinema.

With different lines of action, the festival places itself on the conceptual thresholds between cinema and other arts and areas of thought.

Awards & Prizes

- Grand Jury prize (€1200)
- Memory and Archive Award (€800)
- Lives and Places Award (€600)
- Honorable mentions

The Memory and Archive award is only intended for films that are part of competitive screenings in the "Memory and Archive" section. These are films that tend to resort creatively to archives and found footage or that explore the theme of memory.

The Lives and Places award is only intended for films that are part of competitive sessions in the "Lives and Places" section, dedicated to films with a focus on the aesthetic approach to everyday life, habitats and biographies.

The Grand Jury Prize is awarded to the best film in competition, regardless of genre, theme or duration (films from the "Memory and Archive" and "Lives and Places" sections are also included).

In addition to the above-mentioned prizes, the jury may also award honorable mentions.

There is no merit distinction between short and feature films.

Rules & Terms

THEMES AND GENRES
- Documentary, experimental, fiction or animation genre;
- Films using found footage;
- Family records and home movies;
- Self-portraits or works about identities;
- Films around intimacy, privacy and family ties;
- Social or community landscapes;
- The family as problematic;
- Private spaces and familiar landscapes;

CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION
- Production date should not exceed three years;
- There is no limit on the duration of the works;
- Each author/director is limited to submitting two works;
- Films must be submitted with English subtitles embedded.

SUBSCRIPTION
- The application must be made through the FilmFreeway platform:
https://filmfreeway.com/FamilyFilmProject

RULES
https://familyfilmproject.com/en/festival/rules/

It is mandatory, in the submission process, that the following information be made available through the platform:

- Synopsis (max. 250 words);
- 3 photos from the film in high resolution (minimum 300 dpi; jpeg);
- 1 movie poster (if any);
- 1 photograph of the director;
- Biography of the director (max. 250 words.);
- Trailer (link);
- Link with password for viewing the film.

Alternatively, the aforementioned contents can be sent to the following email address: registration@familyfilmproject.com.

Incomplete proposals and/or that do not comply with the requirements established in this regulation will not be considered.

NOTIFICATION
If the film is selected, the author/producer will be notified by email by September 30th.
The authors/directors or producers will be contacted to send a version of the film with the highest quality. The film must be accompanied by the following:
- Letter of authorization for exhibition.

If the film is not selected, the author/producer will be notified via FilmFreeway by September 30th.
Submission fees are non-refundable.
The Family Film Project is not obligated to provide feedback, comments or justifications regarding the selection process.

SHIPPING FORMAT
- DCP version + MOV or MP4 version (with PRORES or h264 compression, in maximum quality);
- Movie subtitled in English (embedded subtitles).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Fragments of selected works may be used to promote the festival via TV, radio or internet.
The selected films will be able to integrate extensions organized within the scope of the festival.
The festival does not pay screening fees for films selected for competition.
The submission of films to the FAMILY FILM PROJECT presupposes knowledge and acceptance of these regulations.

AWARDS
- Grand Jury Prize (best film in competition - €1200)
- Memory and Archive Prize (800€)
- Honorable mentions

The "Memory and Archive" award is only intended for films that are part of competitive screenings in the "Memory and Archive" section. These are films that tend to resort creatively to archives and found footage or that explore the theme of memory.
The "Grand Prize of the Jury" is awarded to the best film in competition, regardless of genre, theme or duration (films from the "Memory and Archive" section are also included).
There is no merit distinction between short and feature films.
In addition to the above-mentioned prizes, the jury may also award honorable mentions.

DOUBTS
registration@familyfilmproject.com

9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
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  • Glenn Dumortier

    This is an absolute fantastic festival, organized by fantastic people. If you have a love for archive material: don't hesitate, just submit or go. Really proud I won the archive and memory award. Thank you so much and hopefully we'll meet again.

    November 2023
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  • Laurence MICHEL

    The welcome from the festival team was very warm, very good organization, and my film "4801 nights" received the Grand Jury Prize! What could be better? I am very honored, thank you!

    October 2023
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  • Clara Jaeschke

    I enjoyed my time at Family Film Project so much - everyone was nice and welcoming, I got really inspired by the film selection and the venues were right in the center of Porto, which made it easy to schedule my (unfortunately short) time in this beautiful city. Thank you so much, FFP!

    November 2022
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  • Sandra Ruesga

    This is an amazing festival, with a fantastic programme and a great organization. The public is amazing, all the sessions were almost packed. I really enjoyed the screening of my film there! Thank you so much again to all the team and programmers!

    October 2022
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  • Debora B

    I had an excellent experience with this festival. Great communication, inspiring selection of films, top-notch jury and very well designed overall. I would definitely recommend submitting your work!

    January 2022
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