International from the beginning

Since its first edition in 1999, the International Environmental Film and Video Festival (FICA) has stood out for its ability to attract relevant participation from different countries and Brazilian states. That year, the event already had 154 works registered, from 17 countries, from which 37 productions were selected from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, United States, France, Netherlands, England, Mozambique, Portugal and Venezuela. In the Brazilian participation, 17 works were selected from 8 states: Brasília, Goiás, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

It was a successful debut that turns 25 years old in 2024. FICA was born as a governmental cultural project designed to promote the development of film production, become a reference in the debate on environmental issues and propagate the potential of Goiás on the international scene. Every year, on the screens of the historic Cine Teatro São Joaquim, in the Cidade de Goiás, a selection of the newest, most relevant and disturbing films that deal with the relationship between human beings and nature are shown.

FICA is also a forum for high-level environmental debates, always bringing together great thinkers and international leaders to discuss the present and future of the planet and humanity. The festival has also been, throughout its history, a fundamental element in the development of cinema in the State of Goiás, showing films from our State, training professionals and encouraging their networking.

Creators

The festival was created by Luiz Felipe Gabriel, Jaime Sautchuk, Adnair França and Luís Gonzaga, general coordinator, as well as filmmaker João Batista de Andrade. The inspiration was CineEco – Serra da Estrela International Environmental Film Festival, in Portugal. Washington Novaes and Lisandro Nogueira were also important subjects in the first years of formation of what would be the backbone structure of FICA.

The presence of João Batista de Andrade in Goiás, due to the recordings for the film “O Tronco”, allowed his effective participation in coordinating the work with the State Government. The filmmaker's contribution was essential both for the format of the event and for establishing dialogue with other festivals with the same characteristics in other countries. Hence the diverse participation of nationalities, a fundamental element for a festival of this nature.

Scenario

FICA is inseparable from the Cidade de Goiás. The choice of the Festival's headquarters was part of a strategy to reposition this municipality and rescue its historical condition. FICA provided the city with an increase in tourism and an incentive for the local economy. One of the assets of the Cidade de Goiás and what earned it the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity, declared by UNESCO in 2021, is the preservation of much of its colonial architecture. This materiality is juxtaposed with the immateriality arising from its people and artists to create an environment with rich cultural production.

With just over 24 thousand inhabitants, according to the IBGE Demographic Census – Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (2022), the municipality has museums, churches, other historic buildings and open spaces that reflect its cultural heritage and natural sites. rich in biodiversity and beauty.

Click on the photo of the year of publication to see the details of each edition.

2003

2008