AApril is the month of Political Festival in Lisbon. From April 21st to 23rd, Cinema São Jorge is filled with cinema, performances, music, humour, exhibitions, debates and activities for children centered on the defense of the democratic system and the promotion of citizenship, civic intervention and human rights.
This year, under the theme of Post-Democracy, the Political Festival will be “the stage and voice of the rescue of the idea that democratic values are non-negotiable, having in mind the growing cases of embracing authoritarianism and that lead citizens to vote for its own denial”, as the artistic directors Bárbara Rosa and Rui Oliveira Marques explain, in a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto.
For the organization of the festival, “a year before the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, it is time to debate the dangers that democracy faces”.
In the 2023 edition of the event, ‘A Garota Não’ will star in a sung conversation, entitled ‘Portuguese Selection: 10 million summoned’. This is a manifesto by the artist and activist from Setúbal, purposely prepared for the occasion, where she talks about the changes she believes in and about some of the issues that trouble her.
Another artist with a major intervention role, who will participate in the festival, is Selma Uamusse. The activist will bring together a group of women to discuss their contribution to building a more generous society, from different places of speech.
From the round table to the stage, MC de Chelas, G Fema, will be heard rapping in Crioulo Badiu, and asserting herself as a woman in rap in Portugal.
There is still room for humor with ‘Monstros do Ano’, by Fernando Alvim. In this “almost almost political edition”, the organization will honor the Portuguese who have a word to say about the country and the world.
In the cinema, which remains one of the essential branches of the program, 21 films will be paraded through the three theaters of São Jorge. Special mention should be made of the collectively produced documentary, ‘New Portuguese Letters’, in which a group of women question the state of the feminist struggle, on the 50th anniversary of the book ‘Novas Cartas Portuguesas’, as well as for ‘Absconded. Young Russians On The Run’, a film that follows the first two weeks since Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
As it could not be otherwise, one of the defining moments of the Politics Festival is the face-to-face meeting with the deputies, which will allow for a five-minute conversation between citizens and representatives of the parties with seats in the Assembly of the Republic about a theme, doubt or question. Participation is subject to prior registration via email. (email protected).
The younger public is also invited to these three days of discussion and civic awareness, individually and collectively, with the thinking workshop for children ‘What is Freedom?’. To register the youngest, just send an email to the same address.
During the festival, the photography exhibition ‘Revelação’, an initiative by CooLabora (Covilhã’s social intervention cooperative), fills the shop windows of São Jorge by portraying the dreams of children and young gypsies hidden by prejudice and lack of opportunities.
After the Lisbon edition, the Political Festival goes up to Braga, between May 4th and 6th at the Youth Centre.
Also Read: This is how Lisbon celebrates the 25th of April: concerts, exhibitions and much more
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