On 14 September at 6.30 pm, the draw took place to select the ambassadors for the films in CineEco 2026’s International Feature Film Competition and Portuguese-Language Feature Film Competition.
The event was attended by Councillor Teresa Pereira, as well as local residents of different ages and backgrounds and representatives of institutions from across the municipality. Through the draw, they each discovered which of the 16 films in the two competitions they would be supporting as an ambassador.
This initiative has been part of CineEco since 2017 and is one of the features that sets the festival apart on the international film festival scene. It also provides one of the strongest links between the festival and its local community.
The aim is to bring the people of Seia closer to the festival, its films and their creators, building a connection that begins before the festival starts and continues until the screening of their selected film comes to an end.
This year’s event also introduced a new feature: the “Ambassador Kit”, a digital toolkit comprising four assets designed for ambassadors to use on social media. The aim is to make it easier to promote the films by providing ready-to-use communication materials and ensuring greater consistency in how the films are presented and promoted.
So, what does it mean to become an ambassador for a CineEco film?
The role entrusted to each ambassador is to discover and share the selected film and the issues it explores; to help bring it to audiences who might otherwise not encounter it; and to encourage them to attend the screening and engage with the festival.
By taking on this role, CineEco’s ambassadors become active participants in the festival, helping to bring its films closer to the community and strengthen the connection between cinema, CineEco and the local area.
From this moment on, each of the 16 feature films has a face and a voice in Seia!
See below for the full list of films and their respective ambassadors!
International Feature Film Competition:
Black Water – Hélder Plácido e Fernanda Neves
Derek vs Derek – Michael Fonseca e Célia Roque
Iron Winter – Associação Equestre de Cavaleiros e Amazonas da serra da Estrela
Kikuyu Land – Corpo Nacional de Escutas / Escuteiros de Seia (Agrupamento 116)
L’Espèce Explosive (Too Many Beasts) – Ana Fraga e Nuno Portugal
La Fjella Leve (Let Our Mountains Live) – Mariana Costa e Artur Ribeiro
Materia Prima – Gabriel Ambrósio e Paula Batista
On The Sea – Vasco Rodrigues e Ana Carolina
Plan C for Civilization – Joana Amaral e Carlos Catarino
The System – Andreia Dias e Rosário Gouveia
Portuguese-Language Feature Film Competition:
Água Mãe – Escola Profissional serra da estrela
Baía dos Tigres – Escola Superior de Turismo e Hotelaria
Nimuendajú – Célia Oliveira e Estela Leitão
O Avesso do Mundo – Orfeão de Seia
Rua do Pescador nº6 – Delegação de Seia da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
Yellow Cake – Teresa Reis e Eugénia Lemos
