Festival takes Portuguese cinema to Paris
The inaugural "Olá Paris" Film Festival will showcase contemporary Portuguese cinema in Paris during three days.
What?
For three days, from November 29 to December 1, Paris will host the inaugural “Olá Paris” Film Festival, showcasing contemporary Portuguese cinema.
The event, held at the Club de l'Étoile Cinéma near the Arc de Triomphe, aims to connect Portuguese filmmakers with French audiences, offering a curated selection of films and opportunities for cultural exchange.
The first edition of the festival will feature seven films subtitled in French. Its patron Maria de Medeiros is a Portuguese director, actress and singer who lives in Paris and shares the cultures of Portugal and France.
Bridging Cultures Through Cinema
The festival is the brainchild of brothers Fernando Ladeiro-Marques and Wilson Ladeiro. Fernando, born in Portugal and specialized in music, and Wilson, born in France with a passion for Portuguese cinema, envisioned this event as a meeting point for Portuguese filmmakers and the French public.
“The current generation of Portuguese cinema is exceptional,” said Wilson Ladeiro. “Paris is the perfect city for this festival—it’s a global hub for cinema, and this initiative was born out of my admiration for the remarkable films emerging from Portugal today.”
Building Visibility for Portuguese Films in France
While Portuguese cinema already enjoys a positive reputation in France, its audience remains niche. “This festival aims to provide greater visibility,” explained Fernando Ladeiro-Marques. “France has a cinema-loving audience and a robust industry, making it a vital platform for Portuguese films.”
The festival has Maria de Medeiros—a renowned Portuguese actress, director, and singer based in Paris—as its patron. Her dual cultural ties make her an ideal figurehead for the event.
Diverse Programming Across Three Days
The festival will feature seven Portuguese films subtitled in French and will include discussions with filmmakers and actors:
Day 1: The festival opens with the world premiere of Margarida Cardoso’s "Banzo", slated for wider release in France on December 18.
Day 2: A selection of four standout films from recent years will be screened:
"Alma Viva" by Cristèle Alves Meira
"Ama-San" by Cláudia Varejão
"Restos do Vento" by Tiago Guedes
"Um Outono em Great Yarmouth" by Marco Martins
Day 3: Marking the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s 1974 Carnation Revolution, the final day will spotlight films focused on this pivotal historical event:
"Capitães de Abril" by Maria de Medeiros
"A Noite do Golpe de Estado" by Ginette Lavigne
The screenings will be followed by a debate featuring the two directors.
Cultural Exhibits and Interactions
The festival aims to extend the cinematic experience beyond the screen. Attendees can meet notable figures like Cristèle Alves Meira, Cláudia Varejão, Tiago Guedes, Albano Jerónimo, and Beatriz Batarda. Additionally, there will be an art exhibition featuring works by:
Nuno Saraiva, illustrator of the festival’s poster
Glaçon, a Franco-Portuguese graphic artist whose pieces depict characters from the Carnation Revolution
Ana Maria Torres, author of the graphic novel "Borboleta"
Fernando Ladeiro-Marques emphasized the importance of dialogue: “Every film should live on through conversations between audiences and creators.”