ULusófona Opens Its Doors to the City of Porto with Great Cinema on Campus

Outdoor cinema made its debut at ULusófona – Porto University Centre last Friday, 11 September, with the Great Cinema on Campus series, an initiative that aims to turn the institution into a meeting point where people can experience cinema, culture and the city of Porto itself.

The series was launched by João Sousa Cardoso, Director of the Bachelor’s Degree in Audiovisual Communication and Multimedia, and Pedro Flores, lecturer at ULusófona and curator of the films and guests selected for the event. They welcomed those attending and emphasised the importance of bringing the University closer to the city and creating opportunities for engagement with the community. The lecturers highlighted the need to experience and make use of the city, stressing that, although ULusófona is a private university, it seeks to develop initiatives that are open to the public and to take an active part in Porto’s cultural life.

The first session featured Persepolis (2007), by Marjane Satrapi. The film, an autobiographical animation based on the director’s graphic novel, follows Marjane as she grows up in Iran during and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, exploring themes such as freedom, identity and resistance.

The film was introduced by Clara Não, the artistic name of Clara Silva, a Portuguese illustrator, writer, artist and activist.

During her presentation, Clara Não shared several perspectives on Marjane Satrapi’s work, highlighting the relationship between the film and the graphic novel on which it is based. Among other aspects, she drew attention to the particular language of animation and to the way different textures are used throughout the film, drawing comparisons with the visual experience of the graphic novel.

Following Persepolis, the series continues with three more outdoor screenings throughout September and October, all taking place in the courtyard of Building 3 at the Porto University Centre. Different films and guests from Porto’s artistic community will continue to explore the theme of rebellion in creativity, as part of a programme designed to bring together cinema, culture and the city.

View Photos from the Event on ULusófona’s Facebook Page

Text
Susana A. Oliveira

Video (Coverage)
Gabriel Motta

Video (Editing)
Matilde Gomez