The Inquisition continues the persecution of Portuguese Jews, sending Visitador Sebastião Noronha to the city of Oporto. With his family and community in danger, António Álvares, decides to outline an escape plan.
1618
Initiated by: Oporto Jewish Community, Directed by: Luis Ismael
(Portugal 2020, 81 mins, Portuguese, English subtitles)
Main Cast: Mafalda Banquart, Afonso Pacheco, Paulo Manso, Heitor Lourenço, Pedro Laginha, Francisco Beatriz, Catarina Lacerda
Synopsis:
1618 is a detailed, splendid, richly dramatized and designed historical drama, and its protagonist is the entire Sephardic community of the Portuguese city of Oporto. It is the 17 century, and as the Inquisition continues to persecute the Portuguese Jews, it sends Visitador Sebastião Noronha to the region. António Álvares, a family man and a member of his community, will become the biggest obstacle to Noronha’s actively Antisemitic plans. Álvares will do it not by fighting evil with evil, but by creating an escape plan for all those who are in danger because of who they are.
1618 is an important project initiated by the Jewish community of Oporto, which turned its past into a gripping historical film. The film’s main action unfolds in places similar to those existing at the time that has meanwhile been destroyed. Many characters actually existed in real life and took part in the facts as narrated in the film.
Available for USA & Canada only
AWARDS, FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS
Chicago Indie Film Awards 2021 — Best Narrative Feature, Best Director
Hollywood Gold Awards 2021 — Best Feature film
Istanbul Film Awards 2021 — Best costume design, Best Art Direction Feature Film, Best Cinematography in Feature Film, Best Director in Feature Film, Best Narrative in Feature Film, Best Foreign Feature Film, Best Jewish Feature Film, Best Actor in Feature Film
Milan Gold Awards 2020 — Best Feature Film, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
New York Movie Awards 2021 — Best Costume Design, Best Director
Stockholm Film Festival 2020 — Best Director
Moscow JFF 2021
Miami JFF 2021
Queens World FF 2021
Boca Raton JFF 2022
San Luis Obispo JFF 2022
Sacramento JFF 2022
Greater Phoenix JFF 2022
Tampa Bay JFF 2022
Atlanta JFF 2022
Savannah GA JFF 2022
Rockland NY JFF 2022
Seattle JFF 2022
The Russian American Cultural Center (RACC) 2022
Winnipeg JFF
Congregation Har Shalom
Bender JCC of Greater Washington
Nashville JFF