Our Mission

We acclaim emerging directors, screenwriters and filmmakers from all over the world and amplify their work by bringing together a diverse audience to experience and reflect on it, and engage in further dialogue.

Our community exists at the intersection of a broader, more inclusive, cinematic gaze and the emergence of truly exceptional cinema.

If films are the content, Alfama is the form that sets the tone for the experiences we create. An architectural somatisation of intimacy, this is the scene in which we invite your films to make their appearance.

Our Story
in 2009 as an informal project to showcase independent cinema in the recondite alleys of Alfama, projected against its iconic stone walls.

​In the following years, Cinalfama matured and became a competitive event of an international character, as well as a cultural reference in Lisbon.

The nature of the events has changed over the years, but the atmosphere, films and venues remain as intimate as they have always been.

Our Home
Founded in 1914, Grupo Sportivo Adicense is one of the oldest and most authentic remaining symbols of Alfama’s true soul.

World famous fado singers started their careers waiting tables at this historical institution – one that still stands in the face of constant change and mischaracterisation of the neighbourhood’s urban landscape.


Awards & Prizes

Competition & Awards
Up-and-coming directors, screenwriters and filmmakers from all over the world submit their work ahead of each of our seasonal screening and awards editions, at which we present our jury’s final selection.

Categories
Best Medium or Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Debut Film
Best Director
Best Actor/ Actress
Best Screenplay

We invite the winning directors, screenwriters and music supervisors or composers to present their work in the heart of Lisbon's old town, Alfama.

The selected, nominated and awarded films promotional material is shared on our website and on our social media platforms.

All winners will receive a laurel and a certificate.

Winning films will be promoted at our partner festivals.

Access to ECU Paris International Festival. Winners will have a privileged selection viewing at ÉCU. Several Cinalfama awarded films were selected and awarded at ÉCU as well.

The winners will have the opportunity to have a one to one mentor session with members of our renowned jury, Leonor Teles and Pedro Cabeleira.

Rules & Terms

The submitter hereby certifies that he possesses the right(s) and all of the proper clearances to submit the film, including, but not limited to image rights, talent releases, soundtrack and/or source music releases; and assumes all responsibility for their material. Cinalfama Lisbon Screening and Awards accepts no responsibility, financial or otherwise, for any film submitted to the festival.

Every entry/submission will be judged based on its directing, acting, technical, and artistic merits, as related to the submission. All decisions made by the judge(s) are considered final and incontestable.

We reserve the right not to give all of the possible awards if we don’t receive enough entries in a particular category or if none of the submissions meet our high judging standards.

There can be, if the jury by its own quality so decides, two winners ex aequo in any of the categories.

The official selection is composed of 5 nominees, 1 winning film per category, as well as honourable mention recipients.

The Cinalfama Awards only accept online screeners. Please submit your film via FilmFreeway. We do not accept discs or any downloadable files. ​

​Entry fees are nonrefundable.

Multiple entries are allowed. You can submit more than one film to the same category.

Any entry will be considered eligible in the next edition only if the film was not awarded in previous editions.

Submissions in languages other than English must be subtitled in English. English subtitles must be embedded in the film. No additional srt files will be accepted.

Only films released after 2015 are accepted.

Short films are considered to be up to 30 minutes and medium or feature films to be 30 minutes or more.

Cinalfama reserves the right to disqualify any film whose submitter might be in any way linked to illicit or criminal acts, proven or otherwise.

Selected, nominated and awarded films’ promotional material will be announced and viewable on our website (http://www.cinalfama.com) and on our social media pages.

The awarded films rightful owners of the rights, in each category of every edition, hereby authorise the film’s live screening at Cinalfama events, and use of relevant content on our social media platforms. This authorisation is an indispensable condition for the inclusion in the festival’s official selection.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • META XINEMA

    We're so thankful with João Gomes and all the talented Cinalfama team for making the Portuguese premiere of our short film "Iku Manieva" a memorable event for us in a true special night . Great people, great films, greatest experience!

    January 2018
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    Response from festival:

    And what a wonder "Iku Manieva" is! Thank you for your words but most of all for allowing us to screen such inspiring work.

  • Vladimir Beldian

    Good festival! Thank you and good luck!

    October 2017
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much Vladimir! Cheers

  • David Desideri

    I'm very honored to win my first award for the best music at this very special festival ! This means a lot to us. Unfortunately the festival didn't send me an e-mail telling me that I was official selected or that our film won an award ! So there was no communication between me and the festival. Anyway we are glad to be part of "Cinalfama"! Muito obrigado!

    May 2017
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    Response from festival:

    Glad you've got to know us in Lisboa after all David.
    And thank you for your "A Greek in Berlin". We wont forget it;)

  • Zhilin Liu

    Honored to run. I hope it blooms here. Thank you for your film festival, thanks to Lisbon, hoping to work with!

    May 2017
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so so much Zhilin!

  • uli decker

    Communitcation with the festival was very friendly, nice and smooth. Unfortunately couldn't go there to recieve my prize as travel expenses etc. cannot be covered, which was a pity, but I understand that the festival is small and does not have the funds to pay for transport etc. of the filmmakers. Friends who attended the festival though liked the atmosphere very much. Overall a good experience!

    December 2016
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    Response from festival:

    Your film was duly honoured by your your friends and film representatives. It was a honour! We do pay for the meals, transfer from and to the airport and accomodation even with very low funds (maybe we'll be capable of covering trip costs in the near future).