It was ten days of cinema. Ten days of screenings, parties, concerts, debates, and encounters that brought together over 6,000 spectators and demonstrated that it was indeed possible to launch a new film festival in Porto. A festival with international ambition, celebrating the best of contemporary cinema while embracing popular expressions of the seventh art. The first edition of Porto/Post/Doc took place from 4 to 13 December 2014, across three key venues in the city: the Small and Grand Auditoriums of Rivoli – Teatro Municipal, Cinema Passos Manuel, and Maus Hábitos – Cultural Intervention Space.
The strongest proof of the festival’s success was found in the numbers: over the course of approximately 70 film sessions, debates, and parties, Porto/Post/Doc welcomed 6,300 attendees — an average of nearly 100 spectators per session. Many screenings were completely sold out.
The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the tribute to Manoel de Oliveira on 11 December, marking the director’s 106th birthday. That evening, the Grand Auditorium of Rivoli was filled to capacity for a heartfelt celebration of the maestro of Portuguese cinema and for the screening of both his first and most recent films: Douro, Faina Fluvial and O Velho do Restelo. The occasion also symbolised a grand return of Rivoli to the city’s cultural life, serving as a gathering place for old friends and new audiences alike.
In addition to the Oliveira tribute, the Grand Auditorium hosted two more full-house events: the Opening Ceremony and the Awards Ceremony, both of which were attended by representatives from the Porto City Council, the Portuguese Film and Audiovisual Institute (ICA), and various private partners.
The festival’s standing was further bolstered by the presence of nearly 250 international guests, including over 20 directors presenting films in the various programme sections. The accredited press — both national and international — included around 60 journalists, representing Portugal’s major media outlets.
The response to the festival’s programme was overwhelmingly positive. Several international programmers offered public praise for Porto/Post/Doc, including members of the official jury and representatives of major festivals such as FID Marseille, CPH:DOX, and Locarno. This inaugural edition established Porto/Post/Doc as a vital platform for discovery, dialogue, and celebration of cinema of the real — leaving a strong and lasting impression on the international documentary circuit.
