Lusofonie / Lusomovies – Portuguese Language Short Film Festival
Voices from the Atlantic: cinema, music, and literature from the Lusophone world at the Teatro Palladium in Rome
About Lusofonie / Lusomovies
A festival giving voice to the Lusophone world in the heart of Rome
In the Garbatella district of Rome, the Teatro Palladium of Roma Tre University hosts Lusofonie – Voices from the Atlantic every spring, a festival celebrating Portuguese-speaking cultures. It is a three-day multidisciplinary immersion that weaves together music, cinema, literature, and historical memory to highlight the deep ties between Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa. The event takes place in Rome, the capital city of Italy, in the Lazio region.
Lusomovies, the cinematic heart
At the core of the festival is Lusomovies, the long-running Portuguese-language short film festival curated by the "Giulia Lanciani" Portuguese Language Centre at Roma Tre. Established to introduce the rich short-film production of Lusophone countries to Italy, Lusomovies brings the most compelling shorts from Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde to the big screen, always in their original version with Italian subtitles. At the end of the screenings, the audience votes for the winning short film of the edition.
The artistic direction of Lusomovies is led by Gian Luigi De Rosa and Cintia Dornelas, with the involvement of the Audiovisual Translation Summer School (USSAT) and the LABTRAD laboratory of the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Roma Tre.
Much more than just cinema
Surrounding the screenings, Lusofonie builds a rich and transversal program:
- Concerts ranging from samba to bossa nova, choro-jazz, and tributes to great Brazilian songwriters like Chico Buarque;
- Poetry readings and meetings with Portuguese-speaking authors;
- Book presentations and round tables on translation, songwriting, and Atlantic identity;
- Photography and historical memory, featuring dramatic readings dedicated to milestones such as the Portuguese Carnation Revolution.
A cultural bridge between Rome and the Atlantic
Organized by Roma Tre University under the patronage of the Embassies of Brazil and Portugal and in collaboration with the Vagaluna Association, Lusofonie is now a landmark event in Rome for those who love Portuguese-speaking culture. The setting of the Teatro Palladium, a rationalist jewel of Garbatella, adds charm to an event that blends academic rigor with openness to the general public.
Lusofonie / Lusomovies — edition 2026
Lusofonie 2026 – Voices from the Atlantic
The 2026 edition, scheduled at the Teatro Palladium in Garbatella from March 18 to 20, marks the debut of the Lusofonie festival and hosts the 5th edition of Lusomovies. A journey combining music, literature, cinema, and historical memory to tell the stories of Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa, under the artistic direction of Giorgio de Marchis and Maddalena Pennacchia.
The cinematic highlight is the Lusomovies evening on March 19, featuring the best Portuguese-language short films voted on by the audience.
Programme Lusofonie / Lusomovies 2026
Wednesday, March 18
- 18:45 – Festival opening by the curators
- 19:00 – Presentation of the book "Chico Buarque e Fabrizio de André" by Maristella Petti, with Mauro Cavaliere and Paolo Carusi
- 20:00 – "Brasil Acústico" concert with Julio Lemos on seven-string guitar (samba, bossa nova, and choro-jazz)
Thursday, March 19
- 17:00 – Dialogue with Portuguese poet Tatiana Faia and presentation of the work "Adriano"
- 17:30 – "Atlantic Words, Mediterranean Notes", poetry reading with Chrysanthi Gkika (Istanbul lyra) and Alessandro Luccioli (daf)
- 19:00 – Lusomovies – 5th edition: screening of Portuguese-language short films from Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, in original version with Italian subtitles; followed by audience voting for the winner (curated by Gian Luigi De Rosa and Cintia Dornelas)
Friday, March 20 (16:30-21:00)
- 16:30 – Round table on photography and revolution with Paola Agosti, Luigia De Crescenzo, and Anna Lisa Tota
- 17:00 – "Lisbon, the night is over!", dramatic reading on the Carnation Revolution featuring photographs by Paola Agosti
- 18:30 – Presentation of the novel "Una delicata collezione di assenze" by Aline Bei
- 19:30 – Meeting "Brazil/Italy: translating/adapting song lyrics"
- 20:30 – "Caro Chico" concert, a tribute to Chico Buarque with Susanna Stivali and her quartet
Highlights Lusofonie / Lusomovies 2026
- 5th edition of Lusomovies, a short film festival with audience voting
- Opening concert "Brasil Acústico" with Julio Lemos
- Tribute to Chico Buarque "Caro Chico" with Susanna Stivali
- Dramatic reading on the Carnation Revolution with photos by Paola Agosti
- Meetings with Portuguese-speaking authors and poets like Tatiana Faia and Aline Bei
Prices Lusofonie / Lusomovies 2026
Practical information — Lusofonie / Lusomovies
Location
Teatro Palladium, Piazza Bartolomeo Romano 8, 00154 Rome, Garbatella district.
Getting there
Metro: Line B, Garbatella stop, a few minutes' walk from the theater. Train: Roma Ostiense station is nearby, well-connected to Termini and regional trains. Car: The district is accessible via Via Ostiense and Circonvallazione Ostiense; parking is limited, so public transport is recommended.
Tickets
Paid admission with daily tickets and full-festival passes; student discounts available. Tickets can be purchased online and at the theater box office. Info: +39 06 57332772.
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Where does it take place — Lusofonie / Lusomovies
Teatro Palladium (Garbatella)
Piazza Bartolomeo Romano 8, 00154 Roma