The 2024 editions of the International Competition and Cinema Falado sections at this year’s Porto/Post/Doc (22 – 30 November) documentary festival highlight a selection of films that reflect the medium’s evolving nature. Each competition explores diverse perspectives and experimental techniques, emphasizing the multiplicity of contemporary documentary filmmaking.

The International Competition features ten films from across the globe. Among the standout entries is Afternoons of Solitude by Albert Serra. Bogancloch by Ben Rivers delves into the layered relationship between landscapes and human history, while Preemptive Listening by Aura Satz pushes the boundaries of documentary with its experimental use of sound and image. These films, together with others such as Fragments of Ice by Maria Stoianova and The Black Garden by Alexis Pazoumian, combine innovative storytelling devices with hard-hitting social and political critiques.

The Cinema Falado section offers a compelling reflection on the Portuguese-speaking world, with productions spanning continents and historical contexts. The films utilize varied cinematic strategies, from archival techniques to animated documentaries. Inadelso Cossa’s The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder evokes the lingering scars of war, while Far West by Pierre-François Sauter presents a cross-cultural investigation. The section also features shorter works, such as It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow, an animated documentary, and Percebes, a hybrid of animation and documentary forms.

Find more information on the complete 2024 Porto/Post/Doc programme – HERE