In recent years, Portuguese animation has been in the spotlight — and for all the right reasons: the country has seen an increase in the production of animated feature films and shorts by a new generation of filmmakers. This includes historic achievements such as Ice Merchants, which earned Portugal its first-ever Academy Award nomination, a prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and the country’s second Annie Award, just two years after Regina Pessoa’s win at the Annies for the much-acclaimed Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days. In addition, Percebes won the Crystal at Annecy in the year when Portuguese animation was the festival’s main focus, celebrating one hundred years of animation production in Portugal. All these achievements have helped bring visibility to this new wave of filmmakers and to the wonderful animation that is showcased internationally every year.

Porto.Anim was born, therefore, out of the desire to ensure that this animation, so internationally celebrated, also has in Portugal the exhibition space and recognition it deserves — bringing it closer to Portuguese audiences and reaching new audiences, including academic communities. After a year of programming focused on animation studios from Porto and across Portugal, Porto.Anim intends to continue this work, also presenting audiences with international animation that does not always find a place within the major circuits, expanding territories, access and perspectives.

This edition will focus on the work of Studio Kimchi (Barcelona, Spain).