In its 16th edition, the Montemor-o-Novo International Puppet Festival is once again reaffirming its importance in the artistic and cultural scene, both in the region and at national and international level.

It is in art and all its languages that freedom manifests itself in all its splendour, in the ability to speak of the present and invent the future, with all its transformative capabilities. These are times when many of these freedoms may be at stake and we must not stop fighting for them, be they individual or collective freedoms, and we cannot accept taking a step backwards and jeopardising the future of new generations.

A diverse programme with companies from Portugal, France, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Canada and the Netherlands, bringing together a total of 15 companies who will put on 30 shows for all ages, from preschoolers to senior citizens, this year placing an emphasis on the female perspective.

Shows choosing Montemor-o-Novo to make their debut fuel our belief in a festival where artistic quality and the relevance of the artistic act are a transforming force for a more open, supportive and free world. A festival with a lively and free spirit that transcends barriers.

Amândio Anastácio