The 2025 edition of “I Am the Jury” took place this Saturday, November 22, at Fórum de Arte e Cultura de Espinho (FACE) and once again brought the voice and critical eye of young people to CINANIMA. More than 30 students, accompanied by their parents, participated in this initiative that challenges children and young people to join the festival’s “jury,” evaluating a selection of films specially programmed for them.
Students from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycles and secondary education participated, coming from the School Groups of Águas Santas (Maia), Afonso Henriques (Guimarães), and Vale d’Este (Barcelos), a diverse representation that reinforces the educational and decentralized impact of the project.
The session benefited from the collaboration of several entities and trainers linked to animated film and film education:
- Paulo Fernandes (Coordination – FRAME Project and also PNC coordinator in Barcelos)
- Carla Correia (ANILUPA)
- Susana Ferreira (teacher, CINANIMA selection jury and first cycle trainer)
- Lurdes Natário (teacher for the 2nd and 3rd cycles)
- Belmiro Carvalho (secondary school teacher)
The schools were accompanied by their respective coordinators from the National Film Plan: Lizete Pinheiro (Águas Santas), Eugénia Almeida (Guimarães), and Paulo Fernandes (Barcelos).
“I am Jury” thus continues to fulfill its central objective: to bring young people closer to the language of animation, stimulating critical analysis, debate, and active participation in the context of an international festival, while also allowing new audiences to discover animation as a form of artistic and cultural expression.
