
The Lisbon CineFest brings together the most original storytellers and the most curious audiences for its annual event. The concept was born out of a desire to create a welcoming space where international artists and the Portuguese industry can meet up and enrich each other.
Our mission is to showcase indie filmmakers all over the world and the competition is open to every production regardless of budget and experience. We welcome films which seek out new cinematic languages and are capable of triggering discussions about urgent topics.
Apart from the screenings, filmmakers are invited to share their experiences and thoughts in Q&A sessions based on perspectives raised by the screenings. Also, the event is jam-packed with roundtables, networking and interviews, and the audience is an integral part of the whole process, with a free give and take of opinions.
The LCF is a non-profit organization. Fees from submissions help us keep the quality standards of both the selection panel and event.
Our competition is run monthly and has the following structure:
1-Each month, we nominate the best films for each category.
2- Each of the monthly nominations of each category competes for the annual LCF trophies. The annual winners are announced at the notification date and are invited for the annual event.
The winners of each category are invited to attend the annual screenings and receive their trophy in the following categories:
-Best Feature Film
-Best Narrative Short Film
-Best Short Documentary Film
-Best Short Experimental Film
-Best Music Video
-Best Student Production
-Best Low-budget Film
-Best Director
-Best Cinematographer
-Best Trailer/ Media Promotion
-BTS footage of winner films, on-camera interviews and roundtables with filmmakers will be published on all festival platforms.
-The 'Student Production' category winner will be part of a mentoring programme with a professional Director.
-Industry professionals will consider winner films to further distribution at the event.
-All monthly nominations of each category are promoted through our platforms.