The Montanha Pico Festival presents several documentaries in its eleventh edition, which kicks off on the year’s first weekend. “Documentaries are in great production in the Azores,” admits Terry Costa, artistic director of MiratecArts and founder of the Montanha Pico Festival. “From independent productions to projects supported by RTP Açores, the festival program is open to all productions.”

On Saturday, January 4, at 8pm, at the Madalena Auditorium, André Leonardo from Terceira will present the documentary “Faz Acontecer: A Journey Bigger than the World.” At 24, the Azorean set off alone on a round-the-world expedition where he traveled +126,000 km and passed through 4 continents and 23 countries. His goal was simple: to find energy and encouragement beyond the “crisis” and “debt”, to make contact with positive people, to let himself be infected by entrepreneurs, both in business and in life, to learn from people who overcame all kinds of adversity and who, more than creating companies or promoting projects, made things happen by facing the present and the future with optimism and the ability to dream. It’s a story that shows us that making things happen is within our reach if we have the dedication and commitment. André presents his story on the big screen and in a live conversation. An event not to be missed.

On Sunday, the conversation about the documentary will go deeper with the presentations of two works by MJ Sousa. The program starts at 4pm with “Tickles in the Earth” and “Sabrina”. In Sunday’s session at 9pm, several experimental short films are presented, including the documentary that explores the life of Fábio Quintiliano, an individual from the island of São Miguel who creates YouTube videos with a singular and intriguing identity. The work of Sara Massa and Martim Morais closes the evening at the Madalena Auditorium.

On Tuesday, January 7, and opening the sessions at the Lajes do Pico Municipal Auditorium, Bruno Correia’s documentary “Guardiões da Esperança” (Guardians of Hope), an RTP Açores production, was the highlight in terms of feature films. All screenings are open to the general public and free to attend. picofestival.com

From MiratecArtes Press Release.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks the Luso-American Education Foundation for sponsoring FILAMENTOS.