The Top 25 Film Festivals for Documentaries, 2nd Edition - #21. Doc Lisboa

Previously: #20. Sarasota

#21. Doc Lisboa

Our take:  Doc Lisboa draws a strong international roster to Portugal in mid-October, kicking off the European all-doc marathon that ultimately concludes in Amsterdam (Doc Lisboa immediately proceeds DOK Liepzig).  It's a fest that doesn't screen a huge number of American films (those by the biggest names and those with a strong artistic bent move to the head of the line), but in just its 6th year of existence, this fest is starting to make waves for its strong programming and excellent hospitality.

Selection of US films screened at 2009 festival:  CALIFORNIA COMPANY TOWN, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY, LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLET, OCTOBER COUNTRY

Our coverage of Doc Lisboa here.

Others:

Filmmaker:  "This was the biggest surprise of our festival tour. The single best curated documentary festival in Europe in the most beautiful city I've ever visited, thanks to Joana Messias. The programming team are exemplary, the accommodations are outstanding with free breakfast and a lovely group dinner every evening on the terrace of a giant bibliotheque that runs late into the evening. After that the parties start. Films don't start screening until 5pm to accommodate all of the late night fun. To be at Doc Lisboa is to be in a state of mind. It's idyllic. The people here care deeply about your film and how you are being treated. You screen at the Culturegest, the main cultural center of Lisbon, which is a huge set of screening rooms with exemplary sound and picture. If there is one festival that belongs to be at the top of the heap, it's definitely this one. Great for competition too, an intensely engaging local press, and a very stringent jury. A+ all around."

Filmmaker:  "this is a great one!  really good.  good curator, great films.  not a market."

Filmmaker:  "Portugal has the most light and the whole festival team treat you with such warmth. Seductive."

Industry:  "Want to go, haven't been yet.  Has a great reputation and know that its been a good experience for the filmmakers who’ve gone there."

Industry:  "A lovely event to attend, and always an interesting selection of films, though the skew towards spanish projects does them no favours in terms of quality."

Next: #22.

Comments

[cathy]

hey this won't let you get past 21, seems 22 is not highlighted so you can click on it