email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

BERLINALE 2013 Portugal

Two films by João Viana at the Berlinale

by 

- Salomé Lamas and Pedro Pinho’s films and coproduction Night Train to Lisbon by Bille Agust complete the Portuguese contingent for this year’s German event

Director João Viana will take part in the 63rd edition of the Berlinale (7-17 February) with two films: feature film A Batalha de Tabatô, which will be presented in the Forum section, and Tabatô, which will be in the running for the Golden Bear in the short film category.

The resemblance of both film titles is no coincidence. The two projects are distinct but complimentary, shot with the same cast, in the same place – notably the village of Tabatô (Guinea-Bissau). Both were also produced by Papaveronoir Filmes, founded by João Viana himself in 2009. 

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

A Batalha de Tabatô (photo) is the 1966 Angola-born director’s first feature length film. Other short films of his include Alfama, in competition in Clermont-Ferrand, and A Piscina (with Iana Viana), one of the most awarded Portuguese shorts ever.

Documentary Terra de Ninguém by Salomé Lamas will also be in the Forum section. The film follows the life of a Portuguese mercenary, from his involvement in the colonial war to his participation in planned attacks on members of the ETA in Spain. The film, winner of the recent national competition Festival DocLisboa, is a O Som e a Fúria production.

Meanwhile, the Generation section is to include Um Fim do Mundo, a collective production by Pedro Pinho. The film was shot in black and white and is one day in the life of teenagers living in Lisbon’s suburbs.

German Swiss Portuguese film Night Train to Lisbon [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile
]
will feature out of competition. The film was directed by Swede Bille August and stars British actor Jeremy Irons. It is an adaptation of novel by Swiss Pascal Mercier and was shot in Lisbon, where it was produced by Cinemate. During filming, Cineuropa made a reportage with the director and main cast, available for viewing here.

Last year’s Berlinale saw a Portuguese production win Golden Bear for best short for Rafa by João Salaviza. The FIPRESCI and Alfred Bauer prizes for innovation went to Miguel Gomes’s third feature length film Tabu [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Gomes
interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile
]

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

(Translated from Spanish)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy