Cineclub Tales of Oblivion — Difficult Histories, Present Memories

On 4 November 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Cinema Fernando Lopes will host a free screening of the documentary "Contos do Esquecimento" (2023), by Dulce Fernandes, followed by a discussion with the director, Raquel Machaqueiro and Felisberto Kiluange, moderated by Luiza Baldan.

Starting from the discovery in Lagos of 158 skeletons of enslaved African men, women and children, the film revisits Portugal's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and the processes through which colonial memory is constructed, transmitted and erased.

The event aims to encourage critical reflection on the relationships between history, memory and colonialism, bringing together perspectives from cinema, anthropology, education and visual arts. The discussion following the screening will address colonial legacies in contemporary societies and the role of artistic practices, research and education in the construction and circulation of historical narratives.

The screening is intended for the Lusófona University academic community, particularly students, teaching staff and researchers in cinema, arts, education, anthropology, history, sociology and cultural studies, as well as artists, cultural professionals and members of the public interested in these issues.

Dulce Fernandes is a Portuguese filmmaker born in Angola, with a background in photography, cinema, journalism and International Relations.

Her work explores Portugal's colonial past and the processes through which memory is constructed. Her films include Cartas de Angola (2011) and Contos do Esquecimento (2023).

Raquel Machaqueiro is an anthropologist and researcher with a PhD from George Washington University. She is a member of the Slave Wrecks Project and conducts research into the Portuguese slave trade, public memory, cultural heritage and the historical legacies of slavery.

Felisberto Kiluange is a PhD candidate in Education at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development (CeiED) at Lusófona University. His research interests focus on the Angolan education system, with colonisation as a starting point, as well as curriculum, higher education and leadership.

Luiza Baldan, who will moderate the discussion, is a visual artist, a postdoctoral researcher at PPGAV/UnB and a researcher funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (2023.08863.CEECIND) at CeiED/Lusófona University, where she is a member of ReLeCo – Socio-Artistic Studies for Decoloniality and Sustainability. Her practice combines photography, text, audio and video in works exploring places, histories and human relationships.

Programme

4 November 2026 | Cinema Fernando Lopes

• 1:00 pm | Introduction to the session and the film
  Luiza Baldan
• 1:10 pm | Screening of Contos do Esquecimento (2023, 63 min)
  Documentary directed and written by Dulce Fernandes
  Production: Kintp and Ukbar Filmes
  Distribution: Madame Filmes
• 2:15 pm–3:00 pm | Discussion on colonial memory, slavery and its contemporary legacies, based on the issues raised by the film
  With Dulce Fernandes, Raquel Machaqueiro and Felisberto Kiluange
  Moderated by: Luiza Baldan