The Curtinhas section is back at Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival, bringing with it a vibrant and imaginative program tailored for children and families. With cinema as the guiding star, this parallel festival invites younger audiences to embark on an Intergalactic Journey through films, workshops, sky-gazing sessions, and plenty of playful discoveries.

The heart of Curtinhas lies in its three film competitions, designed for different age groups — M/3, M/6, and M/9 — which will be evaluated by a very special jury: a group of children aged between 8 and 12. With curious eyes and a strong sense of justice, they take on the responsibility of choosing the best of Curtinhas 2025.

The festival opens with "Elio", a feature-length animation directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, that promises to launch the audience into a cosmic adventure full of emotion and imagination — a perfect beginning to this intergalactic edition.

Beyond the screen, Curtinhas offers a wide array of creative workshops where kids can become little artists, storytellers, and explorers. From the "Little Monsters from Planet Emotion" collage workshop to "Voyage to Space", where they draw directly on film, and the "Artists of the Sun" cyanotype workshop, there’s no shortage of hands-on fun.

One of the highlights of this edition is the "Sky Watching with the Naked Eye" session, led by film critic and astronomy enthusiast Martin Pawley. Under the night sky, children and families will learn to identify stars and constellations, navigate using the North Star, and understand why nighttime is essential for the planet’s ecosystems.


The Kid’s Area, located on the 2nd floor of the Vila do Conde Municipal Theatre, will be open daily from July 12 to 20, between 2:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m, hosts a range of activities designed for children aged 4 to 12, offering them an environment of discovery, fun, and learning. While the little ones playfully explore the world of cinema, guided by a specialised team, adults can relax and enjoy the festival screenings, knowing that their children are in good hands.

The Awards Ceremony will close the competition in style, with the children’s jury announcing the winning films and awarding the Ativo Kids Prize (€750) along with a €250 gift voucher. A celebration of cinema — through the eyes of its youngest critics.

To wrap it all up, families are invited to gather in the Museu das Rendas de Bilros garden for the Closing Party, themed around "Elio" and the magic of the Intergalactic Journey.


As a parallel festival within Curtas Vila do Conde, Curtinhas continues to carve out a world of its own — where cinema is lived, shared, and reimagined by the youngest among us.

2025 Official Selection for the Curtinhas Competition

M/3


CLAWLOLO (THE CHASE)

Alexey Alexeev, 2024, Cyprus, ANI, 3’

FIRST FLIGHT

Adrian Jaffé, 2025, Germany, ANI, 3’1

RISE AGE

Tatjana Theuer, 2024, Germany, ANI, 5’

BOBEL'S KITCHEN

Fiona Rolland, 2024, Belgium, ANI, 10’

LENA'S FARM: FULL NEST

Elena Walf, 2025, Germany, ANI, 6’

HOMEWORK

Nacho Arjona, 2024, Germany, ANI, 15’

FOREVER

Theo Djekou, Pierre Ferrari, Cyrine Jouini, Pauline Philippart, Anissa Terrier, 2024, France, ANI, 6


M/6

PENINSULA

Angèle Vergoni, Sarah Vanhoeck, 2025, Belgium, ANI, 6’

TRIASSIC CUDDLE

Iulia Teodora Turiceanu, 2025, Romenia, ANI, 5’

WHEN OCEAN. RISES

Yongxin Wang, 2025, Germany, ANI, 6’

KEO AND THE STARDUST

Victor Halfen, 2024, France, ANI, 13’

THE EMPTY PANEL

Thibault Chollet, 2025, France, ANI, 12’

AMEN

Orphee Coutier, Bettina Demarty, Kimié Maingonnat, Laurène Perego, Louise Poulain, Avril Zundel, 2024, France, ANI, 7’

I AM AKIKO

Damir Romanov, 2024, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ANI, 7’

REMEMBER ME

Bárbara Barreto, Caroline Soares, João Cadima, 2024, Portugal, ANI, 5’


M/9

GRANDPA HAS A BROKEN EYE AND MOM IS AN ADVENTURE

Marita Mayer, 2025, Norway, ANI, DOC, 8’

REVEN

Hugo Babey, Victor Barreau, Line Bossard, Chloé Hurard, Coralie Monnier, Mathilde Morin, Léna Ripoche, Tanguy Salaün, 2024, France, ANI, 7’

POLLIWOG

Julia Skala, 2024, Germany, ANI, 9’

LOUD AND CLÉO!

Tallulah Farquhar, 2024, Belgium, ANI, FIC, 17’

THE DRIFTING GUITAR

Sophie Rose, 2024, France, Switzerland, ANI, 31’

ON THE MAT OUTSIDE MY DOOR

Antje Heyn, 2025, Germany, ANI, 5’