25 years of history

The first film festival to address environmental issues in Brazil and one of the first in the world, completes its silver anniversary in 2024. Consolidated as one of the most significant events in its genre, the festival is a reference on both the national and international scene.

Every year, on the screens of the historic Cineteatro São Joaquim, in Cidade de Goiás, a selection of the newest, most relevant and disquieting 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 our planet and humanity.

The most important names in cinema and the environment in Brazil and in the world have attended their film sessions and environmental debates, such as Arnaldo Jabor, Cacá Diegues, Eduardo Escorel, Nelson Pereira dos Santos, João Batista de Andrade, Marina Silva, Miriam Leitão, Washington Novaes, among others.

The festival has also been, throughout its history, a fundamental element in the development of cinema in the State of Goiás, showing films from Goiás, training professionals and encouraging their networking.

Fica is inseparable from the city of Goiás. It was an important part of the process that led to the city's recognition as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO and continues to contribute to the economy and culture of the former state capital, a partner in its achievement.

2024 Edition

Technology, Innovation and Climate Change

From June 6th to 11th, 2024, FICA 25th Edition (International Environmental Film and Video Festival) will be held in Cidade de Goiás. This year’s theme “Technology, Innovation and Climate Change” aims to put the discussion about the role of technology in the transition towards a low carbon economy on the center stage, aligning the festival with the debates taking place towards COP30, in 2026, in the city of Belém.

The reflection that takes place in 2024 aligns itself with the vision of the future inseparable from the environmental issues that has always guided other editions. How can technology and innovation contribute to the scenario of accelerating climate change? What technologies – high tech, traditional, indigenous? What are the limits of these contributions if humanity does not change the ethics of its relationship with nature? The complexity of this theme only inspires us to seek the answers to all the questions it raises.

Why Fica?

Carried out by the Government of Goiás, through its Department of Culture, in partnership with the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), through the Educational and Cultural Radio and Television Foundation (RTVE Foundation), its goal is to promote environmentally themed cinema so that it can act as an important agent in building sustainable development. The festival also promotes audiovisual production and the culture of Goiás as a whole and plays an important role in promoting the local economy and tourism.

The festival has in the Cidade de Goiás not only its stage and its birthplace, but a partner and fundamental element of its realization. FICA was created 25 years ago during the period of Cidade de Goiás' candidacy for cultural heritage of humanity and is today an inseparable part of its history.

Competitive Exhibitions

• Washington Novaes International Competitive Exhibition of Films with Environmental Themes – screens and awards films of any length with an environmental theme from around the world.
• Goiano Cinema Competitive Exhibition (free theme) – screens and awards feature and short films produced in the State of Goiás.
• Competitive Exhibition Becos da Minha Terra de Filmes Vilaboenses (free theme) – screens and awards short films by directors who lived in the City of Goiás in the year the film was made.
• Indigenous and Traditional People Cinema Exhibition – a novelty this year, an exhibition dedicated to the screening of films by indigenous filmmakers and traditional communities, with awards for feature and short films.
• Special Sessions and Parallel Exhibitions – without any competitive status, screening of films invited by the organization or curators of the festival.

Awards and contributions to the audiovisual crew

• All films selected for the competitive exhibitions of the 25th FICA will be granted a licensing fee for their exhibition:

  • Each selected feature film: R$4,000;

  • Each short film or medium-length film selected: R$3,000.

     

• The Official Jury of the Washington Novaes International Competitive Exhibition will award the following prizes:

  • Cora Coralina Award for the best feature film (R$ 35,000);

  • Acari Passos Award for the best short or medium-length film (R$ 15,000);

  • Carmo Bernardes Award for the best director (R$ 10,000);

  • João Bennio Award for the best goiano film (R$ 20,000)

  • The Official Jury of the 25th Fica may, at its discretion, award up to 2 (two) honorable mentions to films of its choice, which will receive a certificate from the festival.

     

• Washington Novaes International Competitive Exhibition will also have a Young Jury that will award the Jesco Von Putkammer Prize of R$10,000 for the best film chosen by the Young Jury.

• The Washington Novaes International Competitive Exhibition will also have the Press Jury, which will award the José Petrillo Prize of R$10,000 and a certificate for the best film chosen by the Press Jury.

• Through audience’s choice, carried out through the festival's online platform, the Luiz Gonzaga Soares Prize of R$10,000 will be awarded to the best film chosen by the Popular Jury

   

• For the Goiano Cinema Competitive Exhibition, the following prizes will be awarded:

  • Best feature film: R$ 11,000;

  • Best short film: R$ 8,000;

  • Best feature film director: R$ 8,000;

  • Best short film director: R$ 7,000;

  • Best cinematography: R$ 6,000;

  • Best script: R$ 6,000;

  • Best editing: R$ 6,000;

  • Best acting: R$ 6,000;

  • Best sound: R$ 6,000;

  • Best soundtrack: R$ 6,000;

  • Best art direction: R$ 6,000.

     

• For the Competitive Exhibition Becos da Minha Terra de Filmes Vilaboenses, the following prizes will be awarded:

  • Best film: R$ 5,000;

  • Best director: R$ 5,000;

  • Best editing: R$ 3,000;

  • Best sound: R$ 3,000;

  • Best script: R$ 3,000.

     

• For the Indigenous and Traditional People Cinema Exhibition, the following prizes will be awarded:

  • Best feature film: R$ 10,000;

  • Best short film: R$ 5,000.

Special Screenings and Parallel Exhibitions

“FICA Animado” is an exhibition of children's animations with an environmental theme, carried out in partnership with the Municipal Department of Education.

There will also be several training activities in the areas of cinema and environment, panels, national and international conferences, the Meeting of Cinema Schools of Central Brazil, promoted by the State University of Goiás, a “Tenda Multiétnica”, which brings together indigenous peoples and traditional communities to debate topics of interest, as well as shows and cultural presentations.

FICA 25th Edition (International Environmental Film and Video Festival)

Date: From June 11th to 16th, 2024
Location: Cidade de Goiás (GO)