“Vasco da Gama – O Mar Infinito” opens LAVADIAS, the outdoor film festival in Lajes do Pico.

The fourth edition of Lavadias, the outdoor film festival, opens with Cláudio Jordão’s new film, “Vasco da Gama – O Mar Infinito.”

“The festival’s theme is water, the seas, and the oceans that surround us,” says Terry Costa, artistic director of MiratecArts and founder of LAVADIAS. “Terror in the Deep,” by Australian Matthew Holmes, fills the night with action. At the same time, families have the opportunity to watch Gints Zilbalodis’ Oscar-winning animated film “Flow – Adrift” under the stars. The first night is dedicated to short films, which had already been announced as works by Fu Le, Joana Saraiva Marques, and Salvador Lobo Xavier, among others. The surprise film to be announced, “Vasco da Gama – O Mar Infinito” (Vasco da Gama – The Endless Sea), just premiered at the AVANCA festival last week and now arrives on the island of Pico.

In 1497, King Manuel I of Portugal entrusted Vasco da Gama with reaching India by sea, crossing the Atlantic and Indian oceans, facing storms at sea, on land, and from men. Vasco da Gama prepares to do the impossible, sealing his fate with a promise he makes when he sticks a pitchfork into the bare ground – “I will reach India as surely as this pitchfork will bloom.” The thorn will bloom, and Vasco da Gama will reach India, but at what cost? What will he have to sacrifice? What will be left behind? On one of the most famous voyages in history, this man from Sines changed Portugal… and changed the world.

Cláudio Jordão studied Design and Hypermedia at the University of Algarve’s School of Education, where he taught “Animated Image” and “Animation.” In 1997, he founded the first multimedia company in the Algarve, “pantapoiein*criações-multimedia.” In 2003, he joined the advertising agency DraftFCB as a Motion Designer and released his first short film, “Super Caricas.” He has directed several advertising and feature films, notably “Conto do Vento” (Annecy and Sitges). In 2007, he founded the company KotoStudios-motion productions, debuting in 2022 with the animated film “A Espuma e o Leão” (The Foam and the Lion), which won over 80 awards worldwide, followed by the film ‘Aluado’ in 2024 and this year’s debut “Vasco da Gama – O Mar Infinito” (Vasco da Gama – The Infinite Sea).

LAVADIAS, the open-air film festival, takes place at the Santa Catarina Fort in Lajes do Pico on August 13, 14, and 15, with films screened at 9:30 p.m. The MiratecArts project, in partnership with the Municipality of Lajes do Pico, is free to attend and encourages the public to bring their blankets, quilts, or pillows for greater comfort.

From MiratecArts Press Release