Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival, founded in 1993, has continually developed its own character throughout its history, knowing how to establish points of harmony between innovation centred on contemporaneity and the dignification of cinematic memory.

Curtas addresses cinema from a more open perspective, not being constrained by closed concepts derived from the duration of cinematographic works, production methodologies used, respective budgets, or even supports, nor those derived from presentation formulas defined by strictly commercial criteria.

The competitions will continue to focus on short films, with a longer duration concept than most similar festivals (up to 60 minutes), working in the different categories of fiction, documentary, and animation, as well as experimental films and music videos, in a balanced manner and, when necessary, looking for specific public niches.

Curtas, as an event recognised by the general public, professionals in the industry, and specialised media, is quite consistent in its programming structure in terms of organisational coherence, programme balance, and continual replenishment. With comprehensive aesthetic coherence and quality criteria in the selection of authors and works, as well as a variety of screenings and films, which corresponds to the interest in audience building, valorisation, and betting on emerging talents, particularly in Portuguese Cinema.

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OSCAR® Qualifying Film Festival

In 2021, Curtas Vila do Conde became part of the restricted group of film festivals that integrate the OSCAR® Qualifying Film Festival List, of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Grand Prize of the International Competition and the Award for Best Film of the National Competition of Curtas Vila do Conde are now eligible for consideration in the categories of Best Animated/Fiction Short Film (Live Action) of the Academy Awards, thus dispensing to be presented in commercial circuit in the United States.

Goya Festival Calificador

Curtas Vila do Conde is present in the official list of international festivals of the Goya Awards. One

a Spanish film selected for the official competition of Curtas may be eligible for registration in the

Goya Awards.

Candidate to the European Film Awards

One of the films awarded by the festival's jury will be chosen as a Curtas Vila do Conde Candidate for the European Film Awards, in the short film category, organised every year by the European Film Academy.

European Short Film Audience Award

Together with 9 other emblematic European festivals, Curtas Vila do Conde is part of the European Short Film Audience Award (ESFAA), which consists of a selection of the best European short films of the past year, awarded with a national audience prize. After winning their national audience vote, 10 short films compete to

European public, who are invited to vote for their favourite short film.