Ouro Preto CineOP festival screens 135 films, emphasizes audiovisual heritage

The 21st edition of the CineOP – Mostra de Cinema de Ouro Preto runs from 25 to 30 June in the UNESCO‑listed city, presenting 135 films across 42 free sessions in public squares, the UFOP Convention Center and the Inconfidência Museum. The festival’s theme, “A country exists in the images it preserves”, frames a programme that combines open‑air screenings, debates, master‑classes, workshops and the National Meeting of Audiovisual Archives, gathering scholars and policymakers to discuss the future of Brazil’s audiovisual memory.

Organizer and director Raquel Hallak highlights three curatorial axes: preservation, education and contemporary competition. The “Arquivos em questão” competition showcases five new long‑form works that reinterpret archival footage, while a tribute programme honors pioneering women filmmakers, including a retrospective of Helena Solberg. The event aims to strengthen public access to film heritage, train new audiences and influence cultural‑policy considerations nationwide.