Roma and Sinti Views in Cinema at CIDAAD IV in Porto

Throughout November 2026, a special edition of the CIDAAD film series at Casa Comum, University of Porto, will spotlight films by and about Roma, with the support of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC). The programme presents works from several European countries, directed by Roma and Sinti filmmakers as well as other filmmakers engaging with Roma histories, identities and contemporary realities.

Organised by Katharina Baab, DAAD lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto, in cooperation with Casa Comum and Porto/Post/Doc, the programme features screenings every Friday at 6 p.m. It explores questions of identity, memory, discrimination, cultural resistance and belonging through a diverse selection of documentary, fiction and animated films

By supporting this initiative, ERIAC contributes to a programme that places Roma perspectives at the centre of cultural dialogue and encourages audiences to engage with the complexity and diversity of Roma experiences.

Programme

6 November 2026 | 6 p.m. | Casa Comum

How I Became a Partisan — Vera Lacková

Slovakia / Czech Republic, 2021 | Documentary | 90 min | Original version with English subtitles

In this documentary, director Vera Lacková investigates the story of her great-grandfather and other Roma resistance fighters who fought against Nazism in former Czechoslovakia during the Second World War. Through personal testimonies, archival materials and visits to places where they lived and fought, the film uncovers stories of resistance, survival and courage that have often been overlooked in mainstream historical narratives. It challenges the portrayal of Roma solely as victims of Nazism, highlighting their active participation in the resistance and their place in European history.

The Life and Miracles of Saint Nicodemus of Tismana — Liviu Bărbulescu

Romania, 2023 | Animation | 8 min | Original version with English subtitles

Using stylisation and symbolism rather than conventional documentary realism, this animated short offers a distinctive approach to reflecting on a traumatic past. Animation creates distance from explicit images of suffering while inviting audiences to consider how history is represented, remembered and sometimes omitted. Visually compelling and politically incisive, the film explores the ways artistic form can challenge established historical narratives and open new perspectives on collective memory.

13 November 2026 | 6 p.m. | Casa Comum

Narrow Path to Happiness — Katalin Oláh

Hungary / USA, 2023 | Documentary | 83 min | Original version with English subtitles

Gergő and Lénárd are a young gay couple living in a Roma settlement in one of Hungary’s poorest regions. In a community where homosexuality is strongly condemned, they dream of making a musical film about their lives and becoming famous. Pursuing their ambitions means moving to Budapest, where LGBTQI+ life is more open and opportunities to collaborate with musicians and artists are more accessible. When Gergő’s mother dies unexpectedly, the couple must return to confront the family and the past that had rejected them. Their journey becomes an intimate exploration of love, identity, acceptance and the courage to live authentically.

Eu sunt Nicu (I Am Nicu) — Alina Șerban

Romania, 2023 | Documentary | 16 min | Original version with English subtitles

This documentary follows Nicu, a young man living in an orphanage in Bucharest who is passionate about fashion and eager to make his way in the world. During an ordinary day, he reflects on the three identities that shape his experience and the stigma attached to them: being Roma, being an orphan and being gay. Drawing on his experiences of growing up with different foster mothers, insecurity and bullying, Nicu offers an intimate account of resilience, self-expression and the search for belonging.

20 November 2026 | 6 p.m. | Casa Comum

Snaijka: Diary of Expectations — Tea Vidović Dalipi

Croatia / Italy / Kosovo, 2023 | Documentary | 75 min | Original version with English subtitles

Snaijka: Diary of Expectations follows Tea and Mirsad, a Croatian-Roma couple striving to build a life together while navigating family expectations, cultural differences and deeply rooted prejudices. As they raise their daughter, Frida, they confront questions of identity, belonging and cultural racism while negotiating the tension between tradition and personal freedom. Through an intimate portrait of family life, the film explores the challenges of meeting social expectations while remaining true to oneself.

My Holocaust – Philomena Franz — Philomena Franz and David Navarro Andrés

Spain, 2022 | Documentary | 30 min | German with English subtitles

At the age of 99, and almost four decades after publishing her memoirs, Philomena Franz recounts her childhood and her escape from Nazi concentration camps. Her testimony documents the persecution and extermination of Roma people, the methods used by the Nazi police and the harsh realities of daily life in the camps. She also reflects on how these experiences shaped her identity as a survivor and a fighter. Combining archival footage with subtle animations inspired by historical sketches and drawings, the film brings her memories to life and preserves an important account of Roma Holocaust history.

Please note: This documentary contains images that may be distressing to some viewers.

27 November 2026 | 6 p.m. | Casa Comum

Screening presented in partnership with the Porto/Post/Doc Festival

Three Thousand Numbered Pieces — Ádám Császi

Hungary, 2022 | Fiction | 97 min | Original version with English subtitles

Three Thousand Numbered Pieces explores the relationship between a Hungarian theatre director and a group of young Roma actors whose experiences of marginalisation and exclusion become the material for a stage production. As the rehearsals progress, the actors begin to challenge the director’s appropriation of their lives and suffering. The film develops into a provocative examination of structural racism, white guilt and the power dynamics involved in artistic representation. Based on a play created by the Roma performers themselves, it asks whether Roma stories can be represented without reproducing the inequalities and stereotypes that such representations seek to challenge.

Isaura – A Menina Curandeira Acredita Quem Tem Cegueira — Sandra Ofélia Monteiro

Portugal, 2025 | Fiction | 25 min | Original version

Developed with the active participation of the Roma community of Tortosendo, Isaura emerged from a collaborative filmmaking process that brought together community members in a shared creative experience. Directed by Sandra Ofélia Monteiro, a film student at the University of Beira Interior, with the support of actress and activist Maria Gil, the short uses humour and satire to challenge prejudice and deconstruct the longstanding association between Roma women and witchcraft. The film highlights the importance of community participation and self-representation, demonstrating how collaborative storytelling can challenge harmful stereotypes and bring alternative perspectives to the screen.

Audience discussion

Following the screenings, an audience discussion will explore representation, activism and research on Roma and Sinti communities, bringing together perspectives from cinema, artistic practice and academia.

Guests:

• Ana Rita Alves — Anthropologist
• Maria Gil — Actress and activist
• Sandra Ofélia Monteiro — Filmmaker

Practical information

• Venue: Casa Comum, Rectorate of the University of Porto
• Dates: Every Friday in November 2026
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Admission: Free, subject to venue capacity