Débuts, Oscar-nominated films and an ecological message. Welcome to the Madeira Film Festival.
The Madeira Film Festival (MFF) is held between May 14th and 20th at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre. This year will mark its 7th edition and the programme includes films as well as masterclasses, discussion panels, workshops, concerts, walks through nature and networking dinners.
The Festival started in 2012 at the Belmond Reid’s Palace where films were shown. The following year saw the event grow and films started to be shown at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre. According to Elsa Gouveia, one of the people in charge, the goal of the MFF is to pay tribute to Madeira’s laurel forest, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, by inviting the members of the industry to act as ambassadors around the world.
The festival starts this Monday with the Sunset Welcome Cocktail event, thanks to a partnership with the Meliã Hotel. The opening of this year’s edition will be at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre with another cocktail party, the menu for which comprises the innovative Codfish and Serra da Estrela Cheese pie with Madeira wine and will be served on trays decorated with Madeira lace. Guests will be driven to the Theatre in classic automobiles. The opening film is scheduled for 9 p.m. and other films to be shown include national debuts as well as recent Oscar-nominated films like Loveless. One of the actresses of the movie will attend the festival in representation of the cast. Films will be shown with subtitles in both English and Portuguese, giving everyone the chance to enjoy them.
The event closes at Madeira’s Wine Institute to involve more people. Awards will be given out bearing the inscription of Ambassador of the Laurel of Forest. Ricardo Velosa sculpted the shapes of nature into these mimicking the stinkwood, loureiro and laurel trees and coating the awards in silver and gold.
Elsa Gouveia notes how after six editions several people in the world are recipients of the MFF award and they support the team of the MFF, when on a USA’s digression. They recommend places they visited and sign their emails as Laurel Forest Ambassadors. For Elsa Gouveia, this is a sign that they ‘really enjoyed the festival’.
Programming:
Monday: May 14 | Meliã Madeira Sunset Welcome Cocktail
6:30 p.m.: "Filmmaker Meet & Greet" @ Meliã Madeira Mare
Cocktail and Welcoming Party with musical performance of the Flowers Association of Maio - Grupo Machetinho (Diving of the Cordofones of Madeira) - Hotel Meliã Madeira Mare
Tuesday: May 15 | Official Opening
7:30 p.m.: Official Opening MFF2018
Cocktail and Madeira Wine at the Baltazar Dias Theater, in support of IVBAM, followed by the screening of the opening film at 9:00 p.m. with the presence of the film's main actress, Dorka Gryllus
Intervention of the Borracheiros do Porto da Cruz
Wednesday: May 16 | Interactive Digital Stories
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Workshop Transmedia projects with Prof Arnau Giffreu M-ITI @ Baltazar Dias Municipal Theater
5:30 p.m. - Interactive Digital Stories Official Opening Track
Official Opening of the competitive section Interactive Digital Stories Track
4 Theater sessions at the Baltazar Dias Theater (2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.) - see electronic brochure
Session of 4:00 p.m. with directors present for Q & A session
Thursday: May 17 | Movies and Debates with Directors
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Interpretation Workshop for Beginners with actress Daniela Love @ Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias
4 Film sessions at the Teatro Baltazar Dias (2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.)
Session of 4:00 p.m. with directors present for Q & A session
5:30 p.m. - Interactive Digital Stories Official Opening Track
Presentation of 3 more films of the section Interactive Digital Stories Track
Friday: May 18 | Movies
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Continuation of the Interpretation Workshop for Beginners with actress Daniela Love @ Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias
12:00 a.m.: Educational Outreach with UMa - 5 short films with the presence of the filmmakers
4 Film sessions at the Teatro Baltazar Dias (2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.)
Session of 4:00 p.m. with directors present for Q & A session
5:30 p.m. - Interactive Digital Stories Official Opening Track
Presentation of 3 more films of the section Interactive Digital Stories Track
Saturday: May 19 | Movies and Closing Party
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Cinema Mobile Workshop with the director Luisa Sequeira and Eduardo Filipe @ Noble Hall of the Baltazar Dias Theater
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Workshop Interpreting for Professionals with the actress Dorka Gryllus @ Municipal Theater Baltazar Dias
5 Cinema sessions at the Teatro Baltazar Dias (11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.)
Session from 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. with directors / actresses present for Q & A session
11:30 p.m.: Closing Party and Gala of the nominated Ambassadors of the Laurel Forest
Sunday: May 20 | Movies and Masterclass with director João Monteiro
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Masterclass History and Evolution of Horror Cinema with João Monteiro @ Baltazar Dias Teatro Noble Hall
4 Film sessions at the Teatro Baltazar Dias (2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.)
Session of 14:00 with director present for Q & A session
For more information: http://online.anyflip.com/egha/awbs/mobile/index.html
