The Algarve Film Week is returning to the municipality of Loulé between January 17 and 24, bringing a full programme of national and international film screenings, workshops, talks and other film-related activities.
Now in its fifth edition, the Algarve Film Week integrates two other events – the 12th Monstrate – international Social Cinema Showcase, and the MAIA – Ibero-American Animation Market – to create a meeting point for filmmakers, professionals, students and the general public.
Screenings and activities will take place across several venues in the municipality, including local schools, the Solar da Música Nova Auditorium, Palácio Gama Lobo, the 25 de Abril Multi-purpose Pavilion in Almancil, and the Cineteatro Louletano. All events are free to attend.
The event begins on Saturday, January 17 with an official opening at 5pm at Solar da Música Nova. Half an hour later, the first session of Monstrare, Portugal’s first festival dedicated to social cinema, will take place with the screening of Free Fish, a documentary by Bisan Owda filmed over a year in the Gaza Strip. The film follows the lives of two Palestinian brothers, both fishermen, separated by war but united by the sea. The opening night concludes with the Cinema Jazz Project concert by Arsénio Martins and Paulo Lopes.
On Sunday, January 18, the programme turns to families with a screening of The Secret of the Perlimps, by Brazilian director Alê Abreu, a visually rich animated film exploring “friendship, empathy and the power of imagination”, organisers say.
The following days, January 19 and 20, are dedicated to short films and documentaries aimed at younger and school audiences, featuring internationally recognised titles such as Fauve, From War, With Love, Paco and the documentary Fragmented. These sessions are accompanied by the workshop “Films in My Life”, led by Plutão de Verão.
The Film Week continues on January 21 with the screening of the documentary What Became of You, Sónia, by Catarina Neves at the Cineteatro Louletano, and continues on January 22 with the Portuguese premiere of Hot Milk, by Rebecca Lebnkiewicz, a psychological drama set in southern Spain and focused on family tensions and personal emancipation. On January 23, Monstrare also includes the presentation of the book Rosa, by Sónia Balacó, at the Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Municipal Library.
Meanwhile, the MAIA – Ibero-American Animation Market, organised by the Portuguese Animation Producers Association (APPA), now based in Loulé, brings together professionals and emerging creators through networking sessions, masterclasses, debates and pitching events. Brazil is the guest country for this edition, which runs from January 21 and 23, integrated within the Algarve Film Week.
The week closes on Saturday, January 24, with the Cinetendinha Awards at the Cineteatro Louletano. Promoted by film critic and journalist Rui Pedro Tendinha, the awards honour the best films and performances of the year and will be broadcast on Sapo.pt and SIC Radical.
The Algarve Film Week is organised by the municipal council of Loulé through the Loulé Film Office.
Full programme – Algarve Film Week 2026
- January 17 (Saturday)
Algarve Film Week
5pm – Official opening of Algarve Film Week and presentation of the Audiovisual Support Programme
Solar da Música Nova Auditorium
Monstrare – International Social Cinema Showcase
5.30pm – Free Fish, directed by Bisan Owda (Palestine)
Solar da Música Nova Auditorium
Algarve Film Week
6pm – Cinema Jazz Project concert, with Arsénio Martins and Paulo Lopes
Solar da Música Nova Auditorium
- January 18 (Sunday)
Monstrare
5pm – The Secret of the Perlimps, directed by Alê Abreu (Brazil)
25 de Abril Multi-purpose Pavilion, Almancil – Black Box
- January 19 (Monday)
Monstrare
3pm–5pm – Short film screenings:
Fauve (Jérémy Comte, Canada)
From War, With Love (Jordana Gasparinho, Portugal)
Paco (Kent Donguines, Canada)
Fragmented (Balolas Carvalho & Tanya Marar, Portugal/Palestine/UK)
25 de Abril Multi-purpose Pavilion, Almancil – Black Box
- January 20 (Tuesday)
Monstrare
10am – Film workshop “Films in My Life”, led by Plutão de Verão
Dr.ª Laura Ayres Secondary School
2.30pm – Short film screenings:
Fauve, From War, With Love, Paco, Fragmented
Dr.ª Laura Ayres Secondary School
- January 21 (Wednesday)
Monstrare
10am – Workshop “Films in My Life”, Plutão de Verão
Dr.ª Laura Ayres Secondary School
MAIA – Ibero-American Animation Market
3pm–5pm – Accreditations
Cecal
5pm–7pm – Monsta short film session and Passos para Voar – 9th Edition
Cineteatro Louletano
7.15pm–8.30pm – MAIA presentation
Cecal
8.45pm–9.15pm – Welcome reception buffet
Cecal
10.30pm–1am – Official bar
Monstrare
9pm–11pm – What Became of You, Sónia, directed by Catarina Neves (Portugal)
Cineteatro Louletano
- January 22 (Thursday)
MAIA – Ibero-American Animation Market
9.30am–11.45am – Speed meetings
Cecal
10am–11.30am – Toon Boom masterclass
Espírito Santo Convent
12pm–1.15pm – Pitch sessions 1–5
Cineteatro Louletano
2pm–4.15pm – Pitch sessions 6–10
Cineteatro Louletano
4.15pm–6.15pm – Recruitment meetings (support rooms), open meetings and jury meeting
Espírito Santo Convent / Cecal
6.45pm–8.30pm – Pitch awards and Perlimps screening
Cineteatro Louletano
8.45pm–9.15pm – Dinner
10.30pm–1am – Official bar
Monstrare
9pm – Portuguese preview of Hot Milk, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Greece/UK)
Cineteatro Louletano
- January 23 (Friday)
MAIA – Ibero-American Animation Market
10am–11.45am – Conference: “Animation is not a genre”
Cecal
10.30am–11.45am – Masterclass: International co-productions
Espírito Santo Convent
12pm–1.45pm – Conference: “What is the future of children’s animation?”
Cecal
12pm–1.15pm – Masterclass: Writing for series
Espírito Santo Convent
3.30pm–4.45pm – Conference: “Who is today’s audience?”
Cecal
3.30pm–4.30pm – Executive production masterclass
Espírito Santo Convent
5.15pm–6.30pm – Conference: “How to foster Ibero-American co-productions?”
Cecal
6.30pm–7.30pm – MAIA closing session
Cecal
7.30pm–9.15pm – Dinner (venue to be announced)
10.30pm–1am – Official bar
Monstrare
6pm – Book presentation: Rosa, by Sónia Balacó
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Municipal Library
- January 24 (Saturday)
Cinetendinha Awards
6pm – Cinetendinha Awards ceremony
Cineteatro Louletano
Algarve Film Week
8pm–1am – Algarve Film Week closing dinner
Palácio Gama Lobo
