Portugal: A burgeoning market

The documentary landscape in Portugal is coming alive. While it was decidedly quiet for many years, a new generation of Portuguese filmmakers with an interest in non-fiction is emerging. 'It's very recent that Portuguese filmmakers are making documentaries,' says Renée Gagnon, general manager of Lisbon-based distributor Marfilmes. 'The state just started providing money to make documentaries. In the beginning, there was only money to make long feature films. Now, there is possibility. There's a new school of documentarists.'

June 1, 2002

The documentary landscape in Portugal is coming alive. While it was decidedly quiet for many years, a new generation of Portuguese filmmakers with an interest in non-fiction is emerging. 'It's very recent that Portuguese filmmakers are making documentaries,' says Renée Gagnon, general manager of Lisbon-based distributor Marfilmes. 'The state just started providing money to make documentaries. In the beginning, there was only money to make long feature films. Now, there is possibility. There's a new school of documentarists.'