“The Algarve in the Portuguese Discoveries”, which highlights the role Lagos and the Western Algarve played in Portugal’s history, received the Best Documentary Award and the Special Jury Award
– December 3, 2023 | Text Alexandra Stilwell
The video documentary “The Algarve in the Portuguese Discoveries”, produced by New Light Pictures for the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), received two top awards at leading national tourism film festivals.
In late October, the film was distinguished with the Best Documentary Award for Tourist Destinations – Regions at the 16th edition of the ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival.
The festival, which took place in Caldas da Rainha, showcased the best tourism audiovisual productions made in Portugal and the world, bringing together 262 films from 47 countries. Earlier that same month, in Sesimbra, the film won the Special Jury Prize at the Finisterra – Arrábida Film Art & Tourism Festival in the Short Documentary category.
“The Algarve’s historical connection to the Portuguese Discoveries is an asset that is still underused to promote the region as a cultural tourism destination. Therefore, it is with great satisfaction that we receive the news of this film’s double distinction,” says André Gomes, president of RTA, which is set to enhance this cultural offer to attract unique visitors, sharing the Algarve’s role in this historical context.
The film highlights the role the Western Algarve, and in particular Lagos and Sagres, played in the Discoveries: “This setting, the coastline between Lagos and Sagres, thanks to its privileged geographical position, was the starting point of this whole adventure. It changed the world forever, it gave birth to globalisation,” says the video documentary’s narrator.
“It’s been more than 500 years, and the memory of the great Portuguese Epic still echoes in the present. Any of us Portuguese, if we close our eyes by the shore, can hear the adventure, courage and bravery of these men, built differently. Of these men of will and intent, whose boldness and faith made them believe in the possibility of going further.”
The award-winning film, produced as part of the EXPLORATERRA application, co-financed by the INTERREG V-A Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) programme, lasts around 13 minutes and is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish on the VisitAlgarve YouTube channel.
