Alongside its mission to spotlight emerging talent and celebrate the best of contemporary cinema, Curtas Vila do Conde once again emphasises the importance of cinematic memory in its Cinema Revisited section.

The highlight of this edition is the program “The Last Film”, which challenges the notion that short films belong solely to the early stages of a filmmaker’s career. It presents the final works of acclaimed directors such as Douglas Sirk, Michael Powell, Manoel de Oliveira, Jean-Luc Godard, and Roberto Rossellini — cinematic gems that, for reasons ranging from health issues and budget constraints to a desire for experimentation or a distancing from the film industry, mark the closing chapters of remarkable careers.

Another feature is “Back to the Future: Geração Curtas, 25 Years Later”, which revisits a turning point in Portuguese cinema. The program looks back at the late 1990s and early 2000s, when a new wave of short film production and visibility brought forth a generation of emerging filmmakers. Introduced by Paulo Cunha and Daniel Ribas, the selection includes rarely screened works from four directors who stood “at the centre of this invisible but structural transformation” of Portuguese cinema.

Finally, Cinema Revisited pays tribute to David Lynch, who passed away earlier this year. Throughout its history, the festival has followed Lynch’s work closely, from screenings of his short films (in 2007) to the celebration of "Mulholland Drive"’s 20th anniversary in 2021. Now, it presents the legendary eighth episode of the latest season of "Twin Peaks". Known as the “atomic bomb episode,” this surreal and haunting piece is considered one of the boldest and most visionary moments in television history — and, for many, an experience still unseen in the immersive setting of a movie theatre.

With this program, Curtas Vila do Conde reaffirms its commitment not only to the future of cinema but also to a critical and creative reinterpretation of its past.