Portimão - Algarve

The Algarve, the region where annually this international film festival takes place, is a real vacation paradise in the south of Portugal that knows how to receive the visitant with its very special atmosphere of cosmopolitan resort, in perfect harmony with the color and natural beauty of the region.

With a resident population of above 350.000 habitants, the Algarve confines in the North with the Alentejo, in the South and in the West with the Atlantic Ocean and in the East with Spain.

In its nautical system, we can find the Guadiana river, that makes frontier with Spain, the Arade river and some smaller ones, like the Aljezur and the Odeceixe born at Monchique Mountain, and Carrapateira, Bensafrim, Alvor and Odelouca, all of them running to embrace the Atlantic Ocean.

The natural reserve of Ria Formosa is considered one of the six most important ones in Europe and gathers important aspects of the Algarve region, such as the plants, the seafood and the aquatic birds.

The large Algarve’s coast has important sea ports as the ones of Vila Real de Santo António, Tavira, Faro, Olhão, Portimão e Lagos, places where the Festival has some of its activities.

The Algarve has its story tied up with the sea and the discoveries that would celebrate the Portuguese people as first among the world greatest sea men.

Although the Algarve’s International Film Festival has a large number of sessions along the all region, its "Operational Centre" is stationed at Portimão, city since 1924 and nowadays an important commercial and industrial centre, related to fishing industries and tourism.