9th edition of IndieJúnior Porto comes to an end with a record number of spectators
Winners are already known
The big winners of the 9th edition of IndieJúnior Porto (IJP) are “A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados”, by André Carrilho (1st edition of the APEI Prize, awarded by the Association of Early Childhood Education Professionals, worth €250); “Lola and the Noisy Piano” by Augusto Zanovello (Impact Prize, awarded by the University of Porto, €1000) and “Francisco Perdido”, by Frederico Mesquita won the Audience Prize worth €500. The IJP ended this Sunday, February 2, with more than 8,500 spectators.
For a week, from January 27th to February 2nd, the 9th edition of the IJP presented more than 50 short films for children and young people in an atmosphere of celebration and sharing of knowledge in the community (central theme). This was the best edition ever with more than 8,500 spectators, including school and family audiences.
Of the national and international short films in competition, “A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados” won over the jury of the APEI Award (Association of Early Childhood Education Professionals), formed for the first time in this edition to award a film for early childhood. André Carrilho’s short film stood out for its “pertinent and sensitive approach to the excessive use of cell phones, a problem so present in today’s society”, also highlighting “the aesthetic and creative care, where the watercolour seems to take on a life of its own”, as well as the “harmonious fusion between image, sound and music that takes the viewer on an exciting journey of discovery”. The same jury also awarded an Honorable Mention to the short film “Mr. “Frágil” by Emilia Miekisz, “for the originality and creativity with which it transforms everyday objects from children, such as building blocks, into narrative elements”.
The Impact Award offered by the University of Porto went to Augusto Zanovello’s film, “Lola and the Loud Piano”. The jury, made up of members of the academy and young high school students, emphasized not only “the charm and tenderness of the story,” but also the “audacity of being able to propose a replicable and even scientific solution, which shows a path of integration in the feasible, human and sensitive community”. The Honorable Mention was awarded to “T-Zero” by Vicente Nirõ, a short film about the housing problem in historic city centres.
The Audience Award is chosen by spectators throughout the festival and is determined through votes cast on a ballot paper distributed at the end of the different sessions. This year the big winner was the fiction “Francisco Perdido”, by Frederico Mesquita, the story of a 12-year-old teenager, a love that is not reciprocated and a chance encounter that happens unexpectedly.
This year, the IJP had 85 sessions and more than 50 films in the theatre. The next edition will be special in which we will mark 10 years of IndieJúnior in the Invicta city. There will be many new things as well as discoveries. The 10th edition of IJP 2026 returns in January 2026.
IndieJunior Porto 2025 Awards
APEI Award (Association of Early Childhood Education Professionals)
- “The Girl with the Occupied Eyes”, André Carrilho, Portugal, animation, 2024, 8′
Honorable Mention
- “Mr. “Mr. Fragile”, Emilia Miekisz, United States, animation, 2023, 4′
Impact Award (University of Porto)
- “Lola and the Sound Piano”, Augusto Zanovello, France, anim., 2024, 25′
Honorable Mention
- “T-ZERO”, Vicente Nirō, Portugal/Hungary, animation, 2024, 11′
Public Award
- “Francisco Perdido”, Frederico Mesquita, Portugal, fiction, 2024, 17′
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