CineEco

CineEco is an international environmental film festival held in Seia, in the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in mainland Portugal. It started in 1995 and is organised by the Municipality of Seia. It is the only film festival in Portugal dedicated entirely to environmental themes, and one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. The 2026 edition had 86 films of 32 nationalities, made by 119 directors, competing across six categories. The official selection takes in feature, medium-length and short films, both international and in Portuguese, plus a regional panorama competition. Derek vs Derek won the 32nd edition. The 33rd edition is already set for 8 to 16 October 2027. The main screenings take place at the Casa Municipal da Cultura in Seia. Besides the competition, the programme includes special sessions, a film market and classic cinema. One example is Marcas da Montanha, four documentaries about the Serra da Estrela that filled the room. The festival also travels. CineEco extensions take its films to other places, including Oliveira do Hospital, where the municipality has hosted one for almost two decades. In Resende, the Vale do Cabrum rural development association runs one in August as part of the São Cipriano cultural week, with free entry. The Aderno extension is aimed at children, young people and seniors together, and invites them to reflect on landscape, memory and environment. Another extension works with an open science platform. After each edition, the prize-winning films return to Seia in free screenings under the title Ecos de Seia. The festival also holds talks with directors and producers, and has worked with National Geographic as a media partner.