O Political Festival premieres in the Algarve on the 22nd and 24th of September. For three days, the reflection on “Disinformation” takes place with debates, conversations, exhibition of award-winning films, the music of Luca Argel and Sílvia Barros, the humor of Hugo van der Ding, Face to Face with Deputies and a meeting with journalists Anselmo Crespo and Catarina Carvalho.
After the Lisbon and Braga editions last April and May – which had more than three thousand participants – the festival now arrives in the city of Loulé.
“Disinformation” – this year’s central theme – continues to be addressed “from a critical perspective through a bold set of proposals, which invite us to reflect and rethink the news, its sources and how these, when false, are effectively a threat to democracy", explains the organization.
There are four locations that will host an extensive program of cinema, debates, humour, music, workshops and proposals from various artistic languages: the Cineteatro Louletano, the Palácio Gama Lobo, the Solar Auditorium of Música Nova and the Islamic Baths.
The program consists of 18 activities, including with the school public. The cinema section has 10 films focusing on human rights, freedom and citizenship.
at the start of the Political Festival, on Thursday, September 22, Cineteatro Louletano hosts the announcement session of the winners of the Scholarship Program for Young People, in partnership with the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth.
The two young winners present their pieces: João Diogo Veiga shows an installation around sustainability and Raquel Rodrigues debuts an original theme with voice and guitar. The young promise of Portuguese music, Sílvia Barros, also presents a showcase of her album “Nua”.
Next up is the movie session Political Bodies I, where the highlight is the film “Alcindo” by Miguel Dores, about the brutal murder of Alcindo Monteiro by a group of Portuguese ethno-nationalists.
In the evening, “Quo Vadis, Aida?” by Jasmila Zbanic, nominated for the Oscar for best international film, which explores the life of a UN translator, who watches the refugee crisis, including her own family, with a different and powerless look.
The 23rd of September, Friday, is marked by the usual and unavoidable Face to Face with Deputies, a meeting between citizens and deputies representing parties with parliamentary seats in which, for five minutes, each participant and deputy talk individually about a topic or issue. The event takes place at Palácio Gama Lobo.
Also in this space, the debate takes place between Anselmo Crespo (TVI/CNN Portugal) and Catarina Carvalho (Mensagem de Lisboa), on the current state of journalism and its responsibility in the fight against disinformation.
To close the day with a big laugh, at Cineteatro Louletano, comedian Hugo van der Ding promises to demystify some of the great myths of Portuguese History, in the show “A grande festa”; and a session for over 18s entitled sex in the female.
The last day of the festival, 24th of September, Saturday, begins with a guided tour of the center of Loulé to learn more about the Islamic History of the city, led by Alexandra Pires. The tour ends at the Islamic Baths, with a conversation with Sheikh Zabir Edriss and Dália Paulo (Loulé City Council).
At the end of the afternoon, the Solar da Música Nova Auditorium hosts the documentary “The invisible music”, by Tiago Pereira, about the presence of gypsies in Portugal and how their music has been forgotten and little publicized. This documentary is part of the project Gypsy Music Liking Itself, which the director has been developing with the gypsy community. The film is followed by a concert.
The festival ends at Cineteatro Louletano with the delicacy of music by Luca Argel, which presents the concert to launch the fourth album of originals, “Samba de Guerrilha”, in which it deals with the themes of political resistance, slavery and racism, and with the exhibition of “O Teu Nome É”, by Paulo Patrício, which delves into the real murder case of Gisberta Salce Jr, a transsexual, hiv-positive, homeless and drug addict, in animated format; and “Tracing utopia” by Catarina de Sousa and Nick Tyson, which shows a different look at gender identity and generation Z.
Throughout the duration of the festival, there are also exhibitions and workshops.
“False titles” is Rui Sebastian's installation on the role of typographers and their responsibility for inducing error, exhibited at Palácio Gama Lobo; and “Revelação”, a photography exhibition presented at the Solar da Música Nova Auditorium by CooLabora, (Covilhã Social Intervention Cooperative), which reflects the dreams and aspirations of Roma children and young people who are often denied opportunities.
In the Cineteatro Louletano, there is the installation of one of the young winners of the aforementioned scholarship, João Diogo Veiga, who presents “Eco-nomica”, an exhibition about sustainability, economy and the importance of environmental awareness.
On the educational side, we highlight the workshop “Disinformation, Regulation and Media Literacy”, where some topics will be analyzed, such as covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, with the aim of helping to understand the challenges that Disinformation brings to those responsible for media, but also to each citizen.
“Disinformation can jeopardize citizens' belief in institutions, how it promotes populism and discrimination, and how it can alienate citizens from participating in public life.” The words are from Bárbara Rosa and Rui Oliveira Marques, artistic directors of the festival, who continue to assume their commitment to awakening a critical sense and civic participation, now taking Politics to a new region of the country.
The festival is free to access, maintaining the commitment to inclusion – all film sessions are subtitled in Portuguese (including Portuguese) and all activities are accompanied by translation into Portuguese Sign Language.
All registrations must be made by e-mail: [email protected].
O Political Festival is a concept of Associação Isonomia and has the artistic direction of Bárbara Rosa and Rui Oliveira Marques.
Co-produced by Cineteatro Louletano and Producers Associados, Política has the institutional support of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, the European Parliament – Office in Portugal, the Regulatory Entity for the Media, CooLabora, FCB, BRO, O Menino Grava, National Youth Council, Independent Life Center, esqrever, nineteen, Portuguese Federation of Deaf Associations and this is ground control.
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