Film Market, Special Exhibitions of Cinema under Discussion, Classic Cinema and Workshops
From October 9 to 17, Seia will once again be the center of international environmental cinema, with nine days dedicated to screening national and international films that shed light on and encourage reflection on today’s major environmental issues. CineEco features an extensive programme of side events that broadens the perspective on environmental issues, extending the cultural offering of the film festival beyond the competition itself, serving as a space for meeting, debate, creativity and artistic expression amongst filmmakers, artists, researchers, students, industry professionals and the public.
In this year’s edition, CineEco once again offers a parallel programme that highlights the role of cinema not only as a platform for reflection and intergenerational debate, but also as a space for learning and the convergence of various artistic forms, such as the performing arts, the visual arts and photography.
Special Exhibitions
One of the central themes of the out-of-competition programme is ‘Cinema under Discussion’, a section featuring five films that place various environmental and social issues at the heart of the cinematic experience. Among the selections is John Webster’s “Lições de Fogo” , a documentary about the destructive force of wildfires in Portugal and the portuguese fire crews battling to extinguish them. Against this backdrop comes a Finnish team unaccustomed to such infernal fires. With exclusive access to the experienced Portuguese teams, the film takes us to the front line, where danger and caution go hand in hand.
The section also includes “Flüssiges Gold – Was steckt im Abwasser?” by Philip Montasser, a scientific exploration of wastewater and the resources and energy it has to offer; “Agroecology in Movement”, by João Frade Garrinhas, focusing on the practices and principles of agroecology, an insight into the Portuguese movement which, from north to south, is revolutionising the way agriculture is practised and the relationship between producers and consumers; “Fires and Fascism”, by Peter Knapp, a documentary that explores how communities are turning to direct action, protest and renaturalisation to combat the uncontrollable spread of wildfires and halt the rise of the far right; and “Pantanal”, by Sofija Korf, a film that explores the structural crisis which has been dragging on for decades – silent and persistent – and which threatens the future of this biome.
Cinema Cinema about Serra da Estrela
In the year that Serra da Estrela has become Portugal’s most recent UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, CineEco is devoting a special section to the relationship between classic cinema, the landscape and memory with “Marcas da Montanha”, a series of special screenings dedicated to the Serra. On 16 October, the Serra da Estrela Interpretation Centre (CISE) will screen four documentaries: “Paisagens da Serra da Estrela” (1921) – Copy digitised by the Portuguese Film Archive – Cinema Museum; and three RTP documentaries, namely “A Serra da Estrela” (1965), “A Serra da Estrela” (1970) and “Serra da Estrela Natural Park” (1983).
For younger audiences, there is also a special screening (at the Casa da Cultura de Seia auditorium) on 11 October, featuring a satirical fable set against the backdrop of an animal revolution based on George Orwell’s book, in which the pigs seize power and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship in Andy Serkis’s “Animal Farm“.
Film Market
The Film Market is once again part of the CineEco programme as a meeting place and networking opportunity that brings together producers, filmmakers and young students. A face-to-face opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to meet producers, directors and/or screenwriters in a unique setting for exchanging ideas and presenting unpublished works. A genuine ‘film accelerator’ organised by CineEco, taking place on the first day of the Festival, 9 October, in the Casa Municipal Auditorium.
Exhibitions extend the experience beyond the cinema
The 2026 programme also extends to the visual arts through exhibitions such as the photography shows “Ruralidades” by António Luís Campos, Paulo Magalhães, Miguel Proença and José Conde, and “A Luz da Estrela” by Manuel Ferreira. The non-competitive VideoArte section, presented in a gallery exhibition format, offers a more immersive and continuous experience of works on environmental themes, explored in a more poetic and conceptual manner.
Workshops and training courses: learning through film and creativity
Education and literacy through cinema are once again a priority for CineEco and Seia Municipal Council. In addition to the ‘Sessão Curtinhas’ screenings on 12 and 16 October, aimed at the school community, the programme includes the training session ‘Philosophy through Cinema: an education in motion, both inside and outside school’, led by Elsa Cerqueira, as well as two workshops focused on experimentation and audiovisual creation: ‘Illustrating Stories with the Thaumatrope’ and the ‘Eco-Videos Project Workshop’, both facilitated by Sérgio Pereira and Laura Marques
Films in competition
The 32nd edition of the Serra da Estrela International Environmental Film Festival once again saw a significant number of films submitted for the Official Selection – out of the 410 entries (including fiction films and documentaries, both national and international, on video, film or digital), CineEco features 104 films: 89 films from 34 countries are competing in the six competitive sections of CineEco’s official programme.
View the full list of the CineEco 2026 Official Selection via this link
Additional Information:
CineEco – the Serra da Estrela International Environmental Film Festival – is one of the world’s oldest environmental film festivals. It has been held in Seia every October without interruption since 1995, on the initiative of Seia Municipal Council.
Outside the festival dates and throughout the year, a wide network of satellite events takes place across the country, giving the public the opportunity to watch films on this theme, which is one of the festival’s distinguishing features.
CineEco is organised by the Municipality of Seia and enjoys the High Patronage of the President of the Republic and the United Nations Environment Programme. It also receives financial support from DGArtes. The Festival’s programme is the responsibility of Cláudia Marques Santos, Daniel Oliveira and Tiago Alves.
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