Moamba, by Luís Almeida
Novas Narrativas de Caça
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Date
- 18:00 / Cancelled 18:00 / Sold out Saturday, 18:00
Location
Studio Centro de Arte Moderna GulbenkianPricing
- Free admission
Subject to ticket collection on the same day, starting at 15:00. Only 2 tickets/person. Online reservation with Cartão Gulbenkian is not available
Moamba, the pilot episode of the anthology series “Novas Narrativas de Caça” serves as the starting point for a conversation between director Luís Almeida, actor Gonçalo Cabral, and journalist Joana Gorjão Henriques about deep-rooted racism and the legacy of colonisation.
Angola has been independent for over half a century. But has that change also taken place within us? Or do certain imperialist ideas remain, silently lurking beneath our skin?
In Moamba, four characters gather around a table for a lunch where the past bursts into the present. Amid silences, discomfort, and irony, different levels of awareness emerge regarding forms of aggression that many still cannot or choose not to see.
The question arises: do we want to continue shielding ourselves with the idea that “Portugal isn’t racist”? Or is it time to truly grapple with the legacy of Portuguese colonisation?
Joining the conversation are Luís Almeida, director and writer of this comedy inspired by real events; Gonçalo Cabral, an actor and dancer who brings one of the characters to life and who will share personal experiences of racism, more or less explicit; and Joana Gorjão Henriques, a journalist who has dedicated her work to investigating the colonies, “returnees”, and the various expressions of racism in Portuguese society. The talk will be moderated by journalist Vitor Belanciano.
About the series
Novas Narrativas de Caça is an anthology comprising seven independent stories, linked by their theme – the search for identity and belonging among Black characters, Portuguese people of African descent who struggle to find their place in a society that often ignores and oppresses them. “Until lions tell their own stories, hunters will always be the heroes of the hunting narratives.”
Summer Garden 2026
This event is part of Summer Garden 2026, a free admission festival, with concerts, DJ sets, talks and films. Learn more
Speakers
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Gonçalo Cabral
A professional dancer and something of a jack-of-all-trades. He began his career as a hip-hop dancer, becoming a leading figure on the national scene and making his mark on the competition circuit from an early age. A dancer with Jukebox Crew and a finalist on “Achas Que Sabes Dançar”, his multidisciplinary path led him to perform in contemporary dance pieces, and his career has taken him to the country’s largest theaters, as well as countless venues around the world, in performances that showcase his potential as a performing artist, while also embracing acting.
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Joana Gorjão Henriques
A journalist at Público since 1999, where she writes about racism, immigration, discrimination, and other human rights issues. She was a Nieman Foundation for Journalism fellow at Harvard University (USA). She is the author of the series Racismo em Português, on racism during the colonial era; Racismo no País dos Brancos Costumes, a portrait of racial inequalities in Portugal; and now Racismo em Português 2: Colonos, Retornados e a Revolução por Cumprir. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Gold Medal for Human Rights awarded by the Portuguese Parliament.
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Luís Almeida
He was born in Lisbon in 1991 to Cape Verdean parents. He entered the world of film as a storyteller through editing, but out of necessity and determination, he began directing. His filmography now features the series “Novas Narrativas de Caça”, for which he conceived the original idea. The film Filhos do Meio – Hip Hop à Margem, a documentary about rap in Almada, has already won several awards at national and international festivals. He also directed the series Barman, available on RTP Play, among several other titles. He graduated in Communication and Multimedia from Lusíada University in 2013, and in Editing from Restart.
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Vitor Belanciano
Freelance journalist, cultural critic, author and researcher with a background in anthropology and sociology. He worked at the newspaper Público, whilst also working as a DJ, actor, social scientist and lecturer. He has edited the books Não Dá Para Ficar Parado – Música afro-portuguesa. Celebração, conflito e esperança and Estás na Moda ou Estás na Merda?. He has written numerous articles and essays on cultural analysis and society, published in books, anthologies, magazines, newspapers and online platforms. His work focuses on cultural reflections, broader social issues and the interaction between politics, culture and socio-cultural movements.
Programme
18:00 / Screening of the episode Moamba
Inspired by real-life experiences, Moamba tells the story of a young Black man, of Cape Verdean descent, who goes to meet the parents of his white girlfriend – who were born in Angola – in the 1960s. The occasion, which would be stressful enough under normal circumstances, turns out to be awkward and tense, the result of various misunderstandings and comments made by the four people present. Can you guess what we’re having for dinner?
18:30 / Talk
Moderation
Credits
Written and directed by
Luís Almeida
Photography
Marco Bento
Editing
Nuno Norte
Original soundtrack
Gisela Mabel
Cast
Carolina Picoito Pinto, Custódia Galego, Gonçalo Cabral, João Didelet
Production
Many Takes and Galo Bravo
Executive production
Alexandra Matos, Alexandre Antunes, Luís Almeida and Victor Lemos
Genre
Comedy
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation reserves the right to collect and keep records of images, sounds and voice for the diffusion and preservation of the memory of its cultural and artistic activity. For further information, please contact us through the Information Request form.
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