In addition to the official competition with more than 80 films from 31 countries, this year’s 31st edition of CineEco – Serra da Estrela International Environmental Film Festival features an extra-competition program that reinforces the role of cinema as a space for reflection and intergenerational debate. Revisiting moments from our collective memory, re-dimensioning the idea of landscape, deconstructing the anthropocentric view of life on Earth, reflecting on the relationship with water resources, our economies ‘of affection’, cultural identity and the heritage of a region are some of the themes touched on in the special and classic film sessions, which take place on October 13, 15, 16 and 17 at the Municipal House of Culture in Seia. <\/p>\n
Cinema in Debate: resizing the landscape<\/strong><\/p>\n Four documentaries are part of the Cinema in Debate cycle, special sessions that will be attended by young students from various schools in Seia, who will have the opportunity to reflect on and approach different visions of the landscape – be it wilderness, water, energy or even culture. At\u00e9 \u00e0 \u00daltima Gota (Up To The Last Drop), by Ricardo Guerreiro – With the contribution of the Territorial Planning and Environment Study Group, this documentary, directed by actress Carla Chambel and accompanied by journalist Fl\u00e1via Brito, questions the model of water consumption and management in Portugal. A pressing and topical reflection on intensive irrigation and sustainable alternatives. The film premiered in February 2025 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. <\/p>\n Filhos do Vosso Amor (Children Of Your Love), by Rui Pedro Lamy – A look at traditions in the Melga\u00e7o region, specifically in Gave, and the communities’ deep connection to the land and their ancestral traditions and practices. A narrative about the effort to perpetuate stories, rituals and sharing such as transhumance, the brandeiro and the inverneiro. Last August, the film won the awards for Best Short or Medium Length Film and Best Portuguese Documentary at the MDOC – Melga\u00e7o International Documentary Festival. <\/p>\n Unrenewable Lives. Naturaleza o Miseria (Unrenewable Lives. Nature or Misery) by Francisco J. Vaquero Robustillo – An alert documentary from Spain about the negative impact of the uncontrolled proliferation of renewable energy equipment on local ecosystems and communities. This film invites reflection on the ecological\/energy transition and does not neglect to take a critical look at a concept that has been touched on – “energy colonialism” – about the way renewable energies are being implemented in the territories, causing damage to ecosystems, the primary sector and local communities. Vaquero Robustillo, director of “Ganado o Desierto”, won an award at CineEco 2022. <\/p>\n
C\u00f4a Mais Selvagem (Wilder C\u00f4a), by Jo\u00e3o Cosme – An exuberant portrait of animal and plant life in the Greater C\u00f4a Valley, which challenges the anthropocentric view of life on Earth. A film that shows the natural landscapes, the local biodiversity, the wild species and the existing efforts at ecological restoration, such as the reintroduction of native species, the adaptation of these species and coexistence between local communities. <\/p>\n\n
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