Who We Are
We are a nonprofit cultural association that annually organizes the DOC.Coimbra International Documentary Film Festival, the DOC.LAB Coimbra documentary screenplay lab, and other activities such as workshops, lectures, and film screenings throughout the year. Our goal is to screen films that reflect on social issues and human rights and explore the possibilities of the narrative language of documentary cinema.
Held in the city of Coimbra, the festival attracts filmmakers, students, and film enthusiasts, providing a platform to screen relevant films and foster enriching debates. With a sensitive and poetic perspective on the present and the past, the festival promises to open viewers’ eyes to alternative perspectives on reality.
how the festival began
The association was founded in 2024 with the goal of creating a film festival focused on documentaries and with the desire to enrich Coimbra’s cultural life. We then formed a curatorial team dedicated to seeking out recent films from around the world, featuring diverse styles and approaches—unique works that map the landscape of contemporary documentary cinema, questioning both themselves and the themes they portray.
Vision and Values
We believe that documentary film is a cultural and civic asset: it helps us understand the world, gives a voice to realities that are rarely seen, and brings people from different backgrounds closer together.
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Access to culture: We want documentary film to reach diverse audiences. That’s why tickets for all screenings are free, and we organize screenings for schools and in accessible venues.
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Diversity of Perspectives: We program films from Portugal, Portuguese-speaking countries, and other regions of the world.
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Rigor and Independence: The selection is made by curators, using public and transparent criteria.
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Training and Emerging Filmmakers: We support those just starting out through training and project development.
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Transparency: We disclose who we are, how we are funded, and how we use our resources.
Crew
Leandro Cordeiro
Festival Director
Jonas Amarante
Festival Director
Carla Gomes
Director of production
Inês Moura
DOC.LAB Coordinator
Susi Anny Resende
Curator 2026
Evelyn Santos
Curator 2026
Lícia Brancher
Curator 2026
Maria Moura Baptista
Curator 2026
Carlos Campos
Curator 2026
Rodrigo Baptista
Curator 2026
Kátia Klock
Curator 2026
how the festival began
We are a nonprofit organization: all revenue (donations, registration fees, ticket sales, store sales, and sponsorships) is used to support the organization’s cultural mission—that is, its programming, training, and the organization of its activities.
We then formed a curatorial team, dedicated to seeking out recent films from all over the world, with diverse poetics and approaches, unique works that map the contemporary documentary film scene, questioning themselves and the themes they portray.