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MotelX: Where Portugal's Horror Cinema Finds Its Voice
11 Sep
Summary
- Portugal's sole horror film festival, MotelX, celebrates its 20th anniversary.
- The festival has expanded to 11 days, showcasing over 170 films from 40 countries.
- MotelX aims to foster Portugal's nascent horror film industry.
Portugal's unique horror film festival, MotelX, is celebrating its 20th edition, signaling a significant milestone for the genre in the country. The festival has grown considerably, now spanning 11 days and presenting more than 170 films from 40 different nations. This expansion reflects horror's increasing mainstream appeal and MotelX's commitment to showcasing global scares.
Originally born from a local film club in the 1990s, MotelX aimed to cultivate a love for horror cinema in Portugal, a genre historically suppressed under past regimes. The festival continues this mission by seeking to inspire local filmmakers, offering awards for unproduced screenplays and promoting Portuguese short films within its international program.
MotelX's directors note a shift in audience behavior, with traditional midnight screenings waning. However, the overall enthusiasm for horror remains strong, evidenced by substantial crowds at the festival. They hope to discover truly "nerve-shredding" cinema, a quest that has become more challenging as the Portuguese audience matures and develops a greater familiarity with the genre.
