Credits: Câmara Municipal de Oliveira de Azeméis
On 26 March, the Oliveira de Azeméis Municipal Council paid tribute to the director Manuel Matos Barbosa by naming the small auditorium two at the Oliveira de Azeméis Municipal Theatre (TeMA) after him, in a ceremony marked by emotion and a celebration of his artistic, civic and personal achievements.
The event brought together friends, family and admirers of the director for a tribute that included screenings of some of his films, the reading of a poem in his honour, and an art installation made up of reels from the old local cinema, evoking the city’s cinematic heritage.
Manuel Matos Barbosa began his career in cinema at a very young age, teaching himself the craft and establishing himself within the world of amateur and auteur cinema in Portugal. Throughout his career, he has promoted Portuguese cinema abroad and, from 1977 onwards, served on the organising committee of CINANIMA, maintaining a close and affectionate connection with the festival to this day.
The tribute served as a moment to acknowledge Matos Barbosa’s contribution to culture and cinema, celebrating a figure who remains an integral part of the festival’s history and identity.
