ULusófona Students Stand Out at International Film Festivals

The documentaries "Aurora Borealis" and "Statues Also Die?", developed as part of the Erasmus Mundus Master’s Degree in DocNomads – Documentary Film Direction, are part of the programme of two major international film festivals, in Switzerland and Australia.

DocNomads is an international Master’s programme dedicated to documentary filmmaking, of which Lusófona University is a partner, providing students with training through the creation and development of documentary projects in an international context.

"Aurora Borealis" (19’, 2026), directed by Valeriya Kim, is having its world premiere in the competitive Pardi di Domani section of the 79th Locarno International Film Festival, which took place from 5 to 15 August in Switzerland.

At the same time, the short film "Statues Also Die?" (12’, 2026), by Thaís Fernandes, will have its Australian premiere in the documentary competition of the 74th Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), which took place from 6 to 23 August.

The presence of these two works at leading international festivals highlights the quality and international reach of the work developed by DocNomads students, as well as the programme’s commitment to the development of new voices in documentary filmmaking.

By providing students with opportunities for creating, showcasing and presenting their work in different international contexts, DocNomads helps bridge the gap between academic training and the film industry and gives visibility to the next generation of filmmakers on the international stage.

Watch the "Aurora Borealis" Trailer

Watch the "Statues Also Die?" Trailer