36th Algarve International Film Festival

The FICA 2008 short film competition, holds simultaneous sessions in several places of the Algarve, the “headquarter’s” of exhibition are still at Portimão, and to where we have established the following programme

Every Schedule will be severely observed.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION
12 / 17 May
Algarve
PORTUGAL

call for entries IT’S OVER

New information in a few days

Dear filmmaker,

We wish to thank you for deciding to participate in the FICA 2008 36th INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION, the oldest and most decentralized film festival held in Portugal.

Believe us, your contact was an enormous pleasure for the entire festival team.

For the first phase of pre-selection, we received more than 2000 entries originating from 36 countries. As you can naturally understand, it has been a lengthy process in attempting to choose the best ones to screen in the public sessions between May 12 and 17 comprising the "Official FICA 2008 Selection/Short Film Competition."

We hope to be able to announce them on our official sites by April 1 / 2007, so that you can plan your trips to Portugal and choose the best transportation options. All directors with films chosen for the Official Short Subject Selection / 2008 will be immediately notified, and at that time they will also be invited to come to the Algarve for the whole week of the festival, with the organizers assuring their commitment with lodging and support for meals during their entire stay with us.

So there will be no misunderstandings, we inform you at this time that we are not responsible for the payment of any travel expenses.

As soon as you arrive in the Algarve you will be the guests of FICA during the entire week. We will provide round-trip transportation (Airport - Hotel - Airport) if you decide to arrive in the Algarve at the Faro airport.

The Main Office/FICA 2008 Meeting Location is set up in the Hotel Júpiter at Praia da Rocha (around 60 Km from the Faro International Airport).

We advise careful consultation of the rules for the International Short Film Competition.

As soon as possible we will give you more information and we are at your disposal for any clarifications you might need to request, hoping sincerely that a film of yours will be a part of the "FICA 2008 Official Selection / Short Film Competition." We know you'll enjoy meeting us and spending some pleasant days in the Algarve.

Good luck.

FICA 2008 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

The Festival’s competitive component

The most important action and the one that creates a bigger impact is, undoubtedly, the SHORT FILM COMPETITION already in its 36th edition, an initiative that polarises all attentions and that usually brings to Portugal and the Algarve a great number of interested people.

The scheduled programmes to the competitive presentation of the films that will integrate the "2008 Official Selection" concerning short films, will be presented in PORTIMÃO, in sessions daily beginning at 9:30 pm (10/18 May).

All these films will be presented with digital subtitles in Portuguese and some of them will even be subtitled also in English or French.

PORTIMÃO is the main projection centre of the FICA/2008, and is a modern room fully equipped with the most recent technology - Dolby digital, DTS, DIGITAL SDDS, DIGITAL DOLBY.

The FICA accepts films of professional or independent directors, ONLY/35 mm.

There are only two categories: Fiction and Animation.

To the best film of all, in each FICA edition, is attributed the "City of Portimão Grand Prize".

At the Algarve International Film Festival, the trophy that distinguishes the wining film of a category (animation & fiction) in competition is an original statue.

The winner of "City of Portimão Grand Prize", also receives an original golden statue along with another money prize.

There are also special prizes which intend to distinguish the "Best Film of Portuguese Director", "Best film about nature and environment", "Best film with a message of love and peace amongst men" and, finally, "Best film about the Algarve".

All together, the value of all the attributed prizes, goes over 20.000 Euros, about 25.000 US Dollars.

The FICA/2008 "City of Portimão Grand Prize" will conquer the some of 2.500 Euros.