18 July 2026

Why we bring Portuguese cinema to Berlin

A short note on how the festival began and what it has become.

The Portuguese Cinema Days began with a simple frustration. There was nowhere in Berlin to watch Portuguese films, and visiting Portugal only ever caught whatever happened to be showing that week. The logical solution was to bring the films here instead.

Since 2018, every November, we have screened recent Portuguese cinema at the Moviemento in Kreuzberg — one of the oldest independent cinemas in Europe. Award-winning features, documentaries and short films, in their original versions with English subtitles, across a wide range of genres and themes.

I Only Rest in the Storm — film poster

But the films are only half of it. What sets these evenings apart is everything around the screen: the directors who join us, the conversations after the lights come up, a glass of Port wine, the occasional pastel de nata. It is, in the most affectionate sense, an informal embassy of Portuguese culture in Berlin.

Who it is for

The festival speaks first to Berlin's international community — cinephiles who are used to consuming culture in English and who have an appetite for auteur cinema with a strong identity. You do not need to be Portuguese, or to have any prior connection to Portugal. What draws people in is the quality of the work and the experience of being in the room.

What comes next

This is where we will tell the parts of the story that do not fit on a poster: the films, the filmmakers, memories from past editions, and news from Portuguese cinema you can follow right now.

The 2026 programme will be announced here first.

18 May 2026

I Only Rest in the Storm now screening in Berlin

Pedro Pinho's new feature is showing in Berlin cinemas.

Dear friends,

Today, however, we share news that feels particularly relevant for lovers of Portuguese cinema.

I Only Rest in the Storm — film poster

I Only Rest in the Storm, the new feature by Pedro Pinho, is currently screening in Berlin cinemas. Set in Guinea-Bissau, it follows a Portuguese environmental engineer working on development projects, gradually revealing the complex power relations between Europe and Africa, and the tensions surrounding colonial legacies, global inequality, and international development work.

The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, where Cleo Diára won the Best Actress award, and has since received widespread critical acclaim.

▶ Watch the trailer

Meanwhile, preparations for this year's edition of the Portuguese Cinema Days in Berlin are well underway. This is our time to watch films, discuss possibilities, and think about you, our dear audience, as the programme takes shape — one we hope you will love.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Moviemento, sharing great films, and raising a glass of Port wine together.

See you soon!

The Portuguese Cinema Days in Berlin Team