Page 63 - Metropolis Megazine nº117i

MONSTRA 2025

For the 25th time, the MONSTRA featured a dedicated exhibition at
- Lisbon Animation Festival the Museum of Marionettes and
invaded movie theatres and the screening of “Kubo e as Duas
museums in the portuguese Cordas” (2016).
capital, showcasing the best
in animation in its various More than just a film festival,
forms. “Sanatorium Under the MONSTRA was once again a
Sign of the Hourglass” (2024) meeting point for generations,
and the portuguese “Percebes” cultures, and ways of seeing the
["Barnacles"] (2024) were among world, and Lisbon welcomed it
the highlights of the awards night. once again with open arms. In
addition to the feature films and
Lisbon has once again been short films, the opening ceremony
invaded by the friendly was one of the highlights of the
MONSTRA, a national and festival, with two surprising
international animated film moments: “Mind the Gap” by
festival that brings renowned José-Manuel Xavier, with a live
figures from the international marimba performance, the result
scene to the city every year. At the of a collaboration between Luís
same time, the festival continues Tinoco and André Dias; and a
to prioritise family screenings and performance by Ferenc Cakó, with
those more focused on children, as live sand animation.
well as organising a competition
for students and masterclasses MONSTRA spread out as only it
to help inspire the talents of knows how: unhurried, but with
tomorrow. presence. In the breaks between
sessions, it is common to witness
Between acclaimed works and people sharing experiences and
new discoveries, perspectives old friends reuniting or new
and retrospectives, the festival friends with common interests
was a mirror reflecting distant meeting for the first time. There
worlds: dreams in stop motion, is a sense of community in the
silences in drawings, and emotions air, even for those arriving for
painted frame by frame. The the first time. The festival fosters
presence of Sam Fell, director community, bridges gaps, and
of “ParaNorman” (2012), was blends diverse generations and
one of the highlights—with a accents. And perhaps that is its
sold-out session—and brought greatest magic: the ability to make
with it moments of sharing and the city a place where animation is
discovery. The event was included not just a film genre but a common
in the LAIKA special, which also language. SARA QUELHAS

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