Funded by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, under the program “Summer with Science – Special Support for Research Initiation Scholarships in R&D Units,” the project “20 Essential Films of Portuguese Cinema” was led by Principal Investigator Professor Paulo Cunha, with co-Principal Investigator Professor Manuela Penafria, and took place from September 1 to 30, 2022. The project awarded five research initiation scholarships to young graduates or master’s students. The participants were: Cátia Diogo Gonçalves, Tomás Robalo Maia, Diogo Meireles Costa, Hannah Dias, and Sofia Lúcio Sequeira.
The main objective of the project was to invite participants to highlight 20 indispensable and relevant films for a better understanding of Portuguese cinematography.
The final outcome was the publication of the book “20 Essential Films of Portuguese Cinema”, available here, featuring texts written by the project participants that offer new perspectives on Portuguese cinema. This book helps bring audiences closer to their cinema while promoting the history and aesthetic diversity of Portuguese film.
In addition to the book, dissemination sessions for the project were held at the Cinemateca Portuguesa, Batalha Centro de Cinema in Porto, and at the Viana Cinema Encounters, at the Teatro Municipal Sá de Miranda.