The Politics Festival returns in 2024 with “Intervention” as the central theme of the program. In Lisbon, the Politics Festival takes place at Cinema São Jorge from the 3rd to the 5th of April, in Braga it takes place from the 2nd to the 4th of May at the Youth Center.
The Politics program is now fully revealed for its edition in Lisbon, combining 18 activities over three days, including cinema, performances, music, humour, exhibitions and free-entry conversations. In the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, the program invites young artists, creators, academics and activists to develop proposals and reflections focused on the need to encourage citizen participation in electoral acts and involvement with institutions and their communities.
One of the highlights of the 2024 program in Lisbon is the comedy show with Hugo Van Der Ding on the night of April 5th. “What matters is participating” covers the special appearances in the History of Portugal that prove the importance of participation even if, sometimes, we don’t take home the cup.
The musical program includes concerts by the recently graduated Miss Universe (April 3) and the already experienced Luta Livre (April 4) in a special format. On the one hand, there is the presentation of a new value in Portuguese music that brings us songs of youthful political unrest created by André Ivo and Afonso Branco, a duo that made its debut with the single “Ser Português” and that will release its first album on the end of next summer. On the other side, we have the well-known project by Luís Varatojo, which will present the Fight in an acoustic format, in a show/gathering that gives primacy to the word and encourages dialogue with the public. In Varatojo’s words, “It will not be a rally, but rather an assembly, where everyone will have the right to sound off.”
Politics features debates and conversations around various themes: “Do these stories help to increase civic and political intervention?” its starting point is young people and residents “community reporters” from Mem Martins (Sintra), Chelas (Lisbon) and Casal da Boba (Amadora); the official presentation of the audiovisual project “Faz-te Ouvir” aims to dismantle prejudices and stereotypes associated with gipsy communities in Portugal; the performance/conversation “My identity is an insult” analyzes the search for one’s own space whose right continues to be denied; and also the debut of the Beers&Politics format in Portugal, with the presence of João Paulo Batalha and which is premised on the failure of the fight against corruption.
The cinema section is made up of a selection of 11 productions, including short and feature films, animated films, fiction and documentaries. Highlights include the documentaries “Sapadores da Humanidade” (by The Gandaya Collective), which tells the story of the winding life of António José Botelho de Vasconcelos; “The Color of Freedom” (by Júlio Pereira), which is based on the story of José Pedro Soares, a former political prisoner who was detained and tortured by PIDE between 1971 and 1974, contextualizing Portugal and its reality at the time; and “Maghreb’s hope” (by Bassem Ben Brahim), a portrait of the experiences of queer people from the Maghreb. The award-winning “Monte Clérigo” (by Luís Campos) and “Mistida” (by Wilker Nhaga) are also part of the 2024 selection.
In this Lisbon edition of the Politics Festival, it will be possible to count on four exhibitions: “LGBT+ History in Portugal” consists of a historical overview of the LGBT+ community in Portugal; “After all, how many people abstain in Portugal?” it is an analysis of official abstention figures; “Affective polarization: causes and implications for the democratic system” is based on scientific papers on the phenomenon; and “MulheresPPT” celebrates the women who played crucial roles in Portuguese politics.
The remaining program is now available for consultation and can be accessed through the website festivalpolitica.pt and Coimbra (November).
The Politics Festival presents itself as the largest event dedicated to human rights and citizenship, with free entry, taking place in Portugal. Last year, the Politics Festival totalled 14 days of activities in Lisbon, Braga, Coimbra and Loulé. The program was made up of 82 initiatives, which had more than five thousand participants.
The Lisbon Politics Festival is a concept from Associação Isonomia, which, in Lisbon, is co-produced by EGEAC and Produtores Associados.
Free entry to all activities at the Politics Festival 2024.
Information about the venue:
Lisbon – Cinema São Jorge – Av. da Liberdade, 175
Braga – Centro da Juventude – Rua de Santa Margarida, 6
Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.
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