As an integral part of its programme at Cannes from 9-18 May, the ACID (Association for Independent Film Distribution) will, for the second year in a row, be offering a programming slot to a foreign independent filmmakers’ association involved in the challenging areas of circulation and audience education. After Serbia in 2017, it’s now Portugal’s turn to be the star of ACID TRIP #2, and a carte blanche comprising three screenings has been given to the APR (Portuguese Directors’ Association).

Three features will be on show: Damned Summer [+leggi anche:
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trailer
intervista: Pedro Cabeleira
scheda film] by Pedro Cabeleira (Special Mention at Locarno last year, in Filmmakers of the Present), Colo [+leggi anche:
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trailer
intervista: Teresa Villaverde
scheda film] by Teresa Villaverde (popular in competition at Berlin last year) and the documentary Ashore [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film] by Leonor Teles (which has just enjoyed its world premiere in competition at the Cinéma du Réel Festival). The APR had this to say about the selection of films: “The fun-loving wanderings of a youth in search of a future. The downward spiral of a family that economic problems are slowly causing to implode. The unwavering steadfastness of a fisherman on the River Tagus and his loved ones. This overview, shot through with the consequences of the crisis gnawing away at Portugal, nonetheless depicts the indomitable energy of an entire people through three films – two fictions and one documentary. Likewise, this country’s cinema is persistent and resilient, and despite production difficulties, it invents its own conditions in order to continue to exist and create.”

Lastly, we should note that the selection of the nine features on the ACID’s main programme at Cannes will be unveiled on 17 April.