16h00 | Praça ProgressoProjects.PT is an initiative by CINANIMA that presents Portuguese animation film projects (production/direction) in pre-production, production and/or post-production to animation professionals, students and the general public.
The moderator will be Carlos Gaio.
Film: Alvéolos
Direction: Nuno Taborda
Production: FILMES DO GAJO
Synopsis: ‘Alvéolos’ is an exciting 2D animated short film about family ties and growing up too fast. The story revolves around a child who inexplicably suffers from constant pneumonia and relentlessly searches for an inner cure, combining symbolism, fantasy and realism in a universe of tunnels, alveoli and blood vessels
Nuno Taborda, 23, Portuguese 2D animator.
Director of ‘Jampine’, co-director of “Wamai” and more recently ‘Nuno’, which has already been screened at festivals such as IndieLisboa, Atlanta Underground Film Festival (USA), Torino Underground Cinefest (Italy), Gbaka Animation Festival (Togo), and many more.
He now presents his new 2D animated short film ‘Alveólos’, which will be in competition at ICA in 2026.
Film: O Lobo que Não tinha Onde Cair Morto
Direction: Ricardo Adrêgo
Production: OS FILMES DO PINGUIM
Synopsis: In a fairy-tale kingdom facing a housing crisis, the sophisticated Big Bad Wolf roams the forest in search of a decent home. Among suspicious little goats, noisy piglets, credit refusals, useless fairies and estate agents with empty promises, he discovers that there isn’t always room for everyone in happy endings.
Ricardo Adrêgo collaborates with the production company Os Filmes do Pinguim in all creative phases. He was art director for the series The 7 Boxes (2024) and collaborated in the creation of an animated segment for the feature film O Natal do Bruno Aleixo (2022). He worked as a storyboarder for the children’s animation series MOLEY (2022) (co-produced by Warner Media and Nottage Productions) and he has also developed the storyboard for the short film Foxtale (2022), directed by Alexandra Allen. He participated in all creative areas of the TV special Isto não é um Chapéu. Ricardo is currently developing his first short film, The Homeless Wolf, and the series Animatales, co-authored with Alexandra Allen and Sara Allen.
Film: Roupa Velha
Direction: Alice Eça Guimarães
Production: OS FILMES DO PINGUIM
Synopsis: A woman plans Christmas dinner. As she chops vegetables and prepares the codfish, the meal grows in opulence, in a dreamlike atmosphere, where the bolo-rei grumbles as they put the bean in the dough and Christmas pastries are made with the dust from the tree’s star. However, the arrival of her eldest daughter suddenly interrupts this idyllic atmosphere and reveals, in place of the lavish meal, a mess of dishes and food, denouncing the deterioration of the matriarch’s physical and mental health.
Alice Eça Guimarães has always been drawn to the world of animated images and throughout her professional life she has worked in both advertising and animated film. Her films have been recognised with prestigious awards, such as the Sophia for best Portuguese short film with Amélia & Duarte, co-directed with Mónica Santos. Her most recent short film, Because today is Saturday, premiered at Curtas Vila do Conde, where it won the Audience Award. She is currently developing a short film in stop-motion and pixilation – Roupa Velha.
Jorge Ribeiro began his career in animated film in 1999 at Magic Toons studios in Lisbon. Since then, he has worked as an animation inbetweener, animator, layout artist, director, voice actor, illustrator, musician, editor, on dozens of short films and other animated and live-action productions. He has directed animated series for RTP, namely Os Espadinhas (2004) and Visiokids (2014), and the TV special entitled Isto não é um chapéu, uma aventura de Foxy e Meg (2019). In 2015, he founded his own production company, Os Filmes do Pinguim, where he produces 2D and 3D animated fiction films, the most recent being Sweet Spot, co-directed by Paulo Patrício.
Film: Vermelho Sangue
Direction: Bárbara Barreto e Artur Correia
Production: TAKE IT EASY / EASYLAB
Synopsis: The introspective journey of a young woman and her relationship with the colour of BLOOD – beginning / rooted in a bloody childhood accident. A letter to RED: of physical and metaphorical blood; of trauma and growth; of wounds and love; of the intimate uterine and parental.
My name is Bárbara Barreto, I am 23 years old, originally from Algarve, and I have a degree in Digital Animation from Lusófona University.
During my studies, I had the opportunity to co-direct three award-winning short films that were screened at various festivals around the world: ‘A Minha Gaivota Espanhola’, ‘Entre Nós’ and ‘Lembra de Mim’.
In these projects, I was involved in several crucial stages of pre-production and production, from visual development to creative coordination.
Film: Leonor e Benjamim
Direction: Humberto Santana e Pedro Brito
Production: Sardinha em Lata
Synopsis:
Lisbon, 1506. Leonor and Benjamin are two teenagers in love. She comes from a traditional family; he comes from a family of New Christians, of Jewish origin. One of the most important commercial ports in the Western world, Lisbon is ravaged by plague and famine in those days. Abandoned by the nobility, the poorest population is left at the mercy of religious fanaticism, which in April leads to the massacre of thousands of Jews – men, women and children. The romance is cut short by the devastation. But Leonor survives, to discover that love transcends death itself.
A founding partner of Animanostra, he began his career as an author and artistic director, soon taking on the role of producer and developing, over the years, an extensive catalogue of short films and small-format animated series, with several international co-productions.
Graduated in Communication Design from IADE in 1998.
He has made seven animated short films: A ESTRELA DE GASPAR (2000), O PACIENTE (2003), SEM RESPIRAR (2004), SEM DÚVIDA, AMANHÃ (2006), FADO DO HOMEM CRESCIDO (2011), GARATUJO (2016) and ASSIM, MAS SEM SER ASSIM (2019).
He recently did layouts for José Miguel Ribeiro’s feature film NAYOLA (2020), co-directed O NATAL DO ALEIXO (2022) by João Moreira and Pedro Santo, was Animation Supervisor for THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER (2023) by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, and was Production Director for the short film A MENINA COM OS OLHOS OCUPADOS (2024) by André Carrilho.
Graduated in Communication Design from IADE in 1998.
Film: O Crepitar da Terracota | Vol. I | Fogo e O Crepitar da Terracota | Vol. II | Sopro
Direction: Inês Rebanda Coelho
Production: Puto Studio
Synopsis: Crepitar da Terracota is a Fantasy and Sci-Fi trilogy from Intelectual Editora that merges literature, digital art and animation. Set in a dystopian future of hardship and deprivation, it weaves together diverse cultures and beliefs, highlighting empathy, compassion, and humanity’s reconnection with nature and spirituality. The first volume, Fogo, includes an award-winning animated book teaser. Breath, the second volume, presents animations by the author, traditional costume design from Ousilhão and a soundtrack featuring Alessandra Leão and Goma-Laca. The forthcoming third volume seeks to deepen artistic collaborations, especially in animation, unlocking the full potential of this story.
Inês Rebanda Coelho holds a PhD in Communication Sciences from University of Minho and a Master’s in Film and Audiovisual from the Catholic University of Portugal. She is a researcher (CECC-UCP), a teacher and executive producer, she is also an ICA jury member and a co-director of the magazine Cinema & Território. Crepitar da Terracota is her first traditionally published Fantasy and Sci-Fi project, reflecting a long-time dream imagined through animation. Inês is also the author of the tale O Eremitério da Melancolia (2024).
Film: Them
Direction: Diogo Costa
Production: BRO CINEMA
Synopsis: Under the control of a powerful megacorporation, Shelley is forced to expose herself to the public eye. As she pushes herself beyond her limits, she uncovers the dark secrets behind the screen—and must fight to survive while dismantling the system that enslaved her.
Diogo Costa is a freelance director, art director, and concept artist working in animation and video games. His short film The Hunt (2024) was screened at international festivals including Sitges, Chilemonos, MIAF, MotelX, and CINANIMA, and earned him a spot in Variety’s “11 Portuguese Animation Talents to Track.” He is currently exploring new methods of CG short filmmaking that prioritize efficiency and creativity, while leading an international collective on projects such as THEM, which is now in pre-production.
Gabriela Sá is a storyteller and 2D digital artist, specializing in narrative and visual development for animation, video games, and interactive media. She has worked with international clients including ESL/Dota 2, Rippaverse, DHL, and J-Hus, and was the lead artist for the Mobeybou children’s apps. She also has a PhD in Design and teaches at IPCA. Recently, she collaborated on Diogo Costa’s short The Hunt (2024), screened at festivals worldwide. She is now co-writing THEM, currently in pre-production.
Film: Future Purchased
Direction: Catarina Timas and Leandra Carmo
Production: CATARINA TIMAS
Synopsis: When her future self emerges from a world of scarcity, a young woman must face the high price of her careless consumerism, or remain trapped by her own mistakes.
Catarina Timas is a Portuguese freelance producer based in Madrid. She works as an assistant director at APPA, the Portuguese Association of Animation Producers, with which she is developing the first Ibero-American animation market, MAIA, in Portugal. She has also participated in several independent animated short films, including Poopie Pete (in development), Recipe for Happiness and her most recent project, Future Purchased, which she produces and co-directs.
Leandra Carmo is a Portuguese animator and illustrator raised and residing in Loulé. She specializes in 2D animation and illustration/visual development. Over the years, Leandra has had the opportunity to work on several animation projects and short films, such as ‘The Penguins Hug,’ ‘Recipe for Happiness,’ ‘Made of Tiny Boxes,’ and her most recent project, ‘Future Purchased,’ where she developed skills in traditional 2D animation and its various stages and visual development. In her spare time, Leandra also devotes herself to illustration and comics.
Film: Coisas que Acontecem
Direction: José Xavier
Production: OH! Multimedia
Synopsis: This is an innovative animated series project that combines audiovisual elements with interactivity so that, in an almost playful way, it is possible to navigate from poems, launching their graphic and animated form, and from graphic and animated poetic representations, discover their written form.
Film: A Vaca Beca
Direction: Marie-Anne Bonneterre
Production: OH! Multimedia
Synopsis: Beca is a cow like any other cow, and that is what’s wrong. She would like to stand out, be different… and that is why, in each episode, she will come up with yet another extravagant invention to change. However she is also never satisfied with the changes, since they always end up to be a disaster. In the end, disappointed but relieved, after all the mess is sorted out, she always returns to what she is… a cow.
Producer since 1989, with experience in drama, documentaries, and animation, with films and series that have led the Portuguese TV ratings. Director of animation studios between 1992 and 2006, working in series and TV specials for Warner, Nelvana, Ellipse/Canal+, etc. He was a founding member of Cartoon Portugal, representing Portugal in the EU Media Program.
Also created the first professional animation course in Portugal and has been teaching production since 1995, having worked at EPI, ETIC, Restart, World Academy, and the Faculty of Architecture at UTL. He is currently the producer of the “OH! Animation” brand, with short films in exhibition and television projects in different stages of development.
A musician and composer, he has participated in several projects and is currently the author of “Mola Dudle” ( with three albums released) and “Explorador de Sombras.” He has composed music for Teatro o Bando and Teatro Nacional, for TV (Revolta dos Pasteis de Nata/RTP 2) and for cinema (António Pedro Vasconcelos and José-Manuel Xavier).
He has worked with artists such as Patrícia Vasconcelos, Manuela Azevedo, Mikkel Solnado, Armando Teixeira, Sandra Barata Belo, among others. He was a radio host and author of radio programs and is currently responsible for the musical composition and editing of the CML cultural agenda podcasts.
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