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The Old Man and the Demon Sword

In a haunted forest of a forgotten Portuguese village, an evil force emerges. Unafraid of God or Man, it roams the valleys, claiming the souls of those lost in temporary pleasures. The only thing standing between this evil and humanity’s doom is a retired construction worker, a bottle of wine, a 50cc Zündapp motorcycle, and a sword possessed by a mysterious demon.

  • Fábio Powers
    Director
  • Fábio Powers
    Writer
  • Fábio Powers
    Producer
  • Cristiano Guerreiro
    Producer
  • António da Luz Lourenço Jorge
    Key Cast
  • João Loy
    Key Cast
    "Sword (Voice)"
  • Marlon Fortes
    Key Cast
    "Guardian Tree"
  • Sara Fortes
    Key Cast
    "Good Hour / Bad Hour"
  • Maria da Luz Lopes
    Key Cast
    "Sect Leader"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    O Velho e a Espada
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 3 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Portugal
  • Country of Filming:
    Portugal
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Fantasia International Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    July 21, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • MOTELX - Festival Internacional de Cinema de Terror
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    Official Selection
  • Phenomena Festival
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    December 6, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Montevideo Fantástico
    Montevideo
    Uruguay
    September 30, 2024
    South America Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Fábio Powers

He graduated in Cinema (2012) and earned a master's in Multimedia Design (2014) from the University of Beira Interior. As a freelancer, he has worked on projects for major companies like Microsoft, BMW, and Nestlé, both in Portugal and abroad. In comics, he has collaborated with national publishers for Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse.

In 2017, he worked with Academy Award winner Juan Cavia on the animation of a storyboard (animatic) for Filipe Melo's film Sleepwalk, a co-production between Portugal and the U.S.

He was also an animator for the film O Natal do Bruno Aleixo (2022), directed by João Moreira and Pedro Santo, a production by O Som e a Fúria and COLA Animation.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

António da Luz discovers that when he’s drunk, he gains the unsettling ability to see people’s souls. As he grapples with this strange power, he becomes aware of a dark curse that haunts his village. Joined by a mystical, talking sword, António embarks on a series of surreal adventures to uncover the truth behind the curse.

At its heart, this is the story of António—a man struggling with alcoholism, alienated by his community, and wrestling with his inner demons. Though the film may present itself as a fantasy-comedy, it explores profound themes of loss, isolation, and the personal fight for redemption.