This ninth edition of FIMFA is the largest ever to be presented in the city by the Tarumba Puppet Theatre under the artistic direction of Luís Vieira. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the festival takes place in some of the city’s more important cultural venues, like the da Marionata, Teatro Maria Matos, Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, the Museu do Oriente and the Centro Cultural de Belém, to name just a few.
Apart from the performances on various stages, puppets and animators will spread all over the centre of the city to take by-passers aback. Don’t be surprised if you see something really surreal happening in front of you as you walk down the Chiado or Rua Augusta. It’s the puppets and the street artists that have taken over the city in an effort to give everyone a smile.
The festival has also organized four workshops that you can attend:
At the Teatro Maria Matos, João Paulo Seara Cardoso will teach Puppets in two sessions on Saturday, May 16 (10:30-13:00 & 14:30-17:00) and Yola Pinto will lead the workshop The Body like a Puppet from 19 to 24 of May (Tuesday-Friday at 10pm, Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 11am)
At the Museu da Marioneta Gaspare Nasuto (Italy) will lead the workshop Guarattelle: Traditional Neapolitan Puppets on Saturday May 16 (15:00-18:00), while Jean-Luc Penso (France) will talk about Chinese Shadow Theatre and Glove Puppets in two sessions on May 26 and 27 (18:00-20:00).
Last but not least, throughout the festival there will be meetings with the artists at the venues of the festival, as well as animation visits in the shops of Chiado and Santos areas. Also, do not forget to go to the bookstore of the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II where there will be a fair of books on theatre, puppets and animation forms.