# CineFé Festival Debuts in Portugal to Redefine Catholic Cinema The event challenges stereotypes by screening diverse genres beyond traditional religious narratives. - **Source:** [Notícias ao Minuto](https://www.noticiasaominuto.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** < https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/cultura/3080970/cinefe-quer-mostrar-em-fatima-que-o-cinema-catolico-nao-e-so-santos-jesus-ou-maria#utm_source=rss-ultima-hora&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rssfeed > - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/320829f3-acf5-4f24-b532-44084c91dea7 ## Challenging Religious Film Stereotypes The inaugural CineFé festival launches this Friday in Fátima, Portugal, aiming to redefine perceptions of Catholic cinema. Organizers seek to prove that the genre extends far beyond traditional depictions of saints, Jesus, or Mary. By featuring a psychological thriller as the opening film, the event deliberately breaks conventional expectations of religious-themed media. ## Opening with Psychological Suspense The festival kicks off with the 2023 American production 'Nefarious', a psychological thriller exploring exorcism. Scheduled for Friday the 13th at 20:30, the screening includes a lecture titled 'From Fiction to Reality' by demonologist Nuno André. This choice highlights the organizers' goal of presenting commercial, high-quality cinema that aligns with Catholic perspectives. ## Origins of the CineFé Initiative Founder Erick Jesus conceived the festival after attending the Religion Today Film Festival in Trento, Italy. Inspired by the Italian event's focus on inter-religious dialogue, Jesus recognized a lack of similar platforms in Portugal. He subsequently collaborated with audiovisual professionals to establish a dedicated space for exhibiting films with Christian-inspired themes and narratives. ## Focusing on Social Christian Themes Beyond traditional hagiography, CineFé emphasizes films addressing social issues rooted in Christian values. The organization aims to provide a platform for stories that resonate with the beliefs of modern Christians. By moving away from strictly liturgical subjects, the festival intends to foster broader reflection and dialogue through the medium of contemporary cinema. ## Showcasing Diverse Cinematic Works The three-day event features a robust schedule, including ten films on Saturday and another ten on Sunday. Notable screenings include the documentary 'The Extraordinary Life of Carlo Acutis' and Rui Caria’s 'A cruz dá sempre jeito'. These selections highlight the festival's commitment to showcasing both established works and independent projects by new filmmakers. ## Honoring the Influencer of God A significant highlight is the documentary about Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager known as the 'influencer of God'. Acutis, who died in 2006 at age 15, was canonized by Pope Francis in 2025. His story serves as a bridge between modern digital culture and traditional faith, reflecting the festival's innovative approach to religious storytelling. ## Future Expansion and Itinerancy Plans Organizers plan to hold the CineFé festival in Fátima every two years while developing an itinerant model for the interim. Future editions aim to visit cities like Braga, Leiria, and Lisbon to reach youth pastoral groups. This strategy ensures the festival remains accessible and continues to grow its influence across different Portuguese regions. ## Long-term Vision for Catholic Cinema While the current edition lacks competitive sections, organizers aspire to evolve CineFé into a major industry event similar to the MOTELX festival. By establishing a structured, thematic platform, they hope to professionalize the exhibition of Christian-inspired cinema in Portugal, ultimately creating a sustainable ecosystem for filmmakers and audiences interested in this specific genre. --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._