Lisbon International Film Festival 2025 Concludes with Full House and Announces Plans for 2026 Expansion

The Lisbon International Film Festival held its 2025 edition at Casa do Comum in Bairro Alto, Lisbon. A curated selection of short films from across the globe drew a full house, with lively discussions continuing well after the screening. Audience members expressed strong support for the festival’s return to physical screenings, praising both the programming and the intimate setting.

Originally launched as an online platform in 2015, the Lisbon International Film Festival built a reputation for showcasing daring, independent voices through its quarterly curation. The festival paused in recent years to reimagine its structure and returned in 2025 as a live event with a renewed commitment to local engagement and cinematic discovery.

Festival Director Kris De Meester remarked:

"We've always prioritized films that challenge, provoke, or surprise. Seeing a room full of people engaged with this kind of cinema confirms that there’s a real demand for it. This edition was a test of our new format—and it’s clear we’re on the right track."

Festival Manager Veerle Devos added:

"The team at Casa do Comum made everything possible. Their hospitality, professionalism, and attention to detail created the right atmosphere for both filmmakers and the audience. We’re incredibly grateful for the collaboration."

The festival also announced plans to expand in 2026 with a weeklong edition, including multiple screening days, filmmaker Q&As, and a broader international selection. The goal is to build on the energy of this year’s successful relaunch and offer a more immersive experience to both local audiences and visiting filmmakers.

The 2025 awards highlighted outstanding achievements across a range of categories:

Best Narrative Film:

Latchkey Kids (Norway) – Sindre Mangen Haram

Best Director:

The Cascade (Mexico) – Pablo Delgado Sanchez

Best Animated Short Film:

Tennis, Oranges (United States) – Sean Pecknold

Best Experimental Film:

To my love (Rakkaalleni) (Finland) – Aino Kontinen

Best Underground Film:

Fragments (United Kingdom) – Mélodie Roulaud

Best Music Video:

Spell (Brazil) – Khalil Charif

Best Documentary Film:

For Sale (Belgium) – Lidewij Deroo

Best Super Short Film:

The Core (Romania) – Robert Obert

Best Script:

The Dream of Joseph (France) – François Hébert

Best Cinematography:

The Steak (Canada/Iran) – Kiarash Dadgar

Best Dialogue:

Cock (Norway) – Robin Jensen

Best Portuguese Cinema Now:

A Mother Goes to the Beach (Portugal) – Pedro Hasrouny

The festival team is already at work preparing for 2026, inviting audiences and filmmakers to mark their calendars for what promises to be a more expansive and dynamic edition.

https://www.lisbonfilmfestival.org