14/12/2015 - António-Pedro Vasconcelos’ film won four of the seven prizes for which it was nominated

Over a year after its theatrical distribution, António-Pedro Vasconcelos’ Os Gatos Não Têm Vertigens [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] is still making a splash. The film, which tells the story of the unexpected friendship between an elderly widow and a problematic teenager, was the biggest winner at the latest Sophia Awards and has now repeated its success at the second edition of the Áquila Awards, which celebrate Portugal’s film and TV talents.

Os Gatos… won in four out of the seven categories in which it was nominated: Best Film, Best Direction, Best Supporting Actress (Fernanda Serrano) and Best Screenplay (Tiago Santos).

Crista Alfaite was named Best Actress for her performance in Miguel Gomes’ Arabian Nights [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile] triptych.

The box-office hit The Courtyard of the Ballads [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Leonel Vieira received two prizes: Best Actor (Miguel Guilherme) and Best Supporting Actor (José Pedro Vasconcelos).

In the TV section of the awards, soap opera A única Mulher, broadcast by private channel TVI, won in the major categories.

Meanwhile, three Special Awards were given to up-and-coming actor João Jesus, to veteran João Perry and to the Shortcutz project, which promotes and exhibits local short films.

Unlike the Sophia Awards, in which the winners are chosen by peers, the Áquilas are voted for directly by the public.