Macao Arts Festival Tickets Go On Sale, Short Film Festival Launches

Tickets for the prominent Macao Arts Festival (FAM) for this year have now become available. Enthusiasts of the arts can secure their passes from the Macau Ticketing outlets, or they can choose to book by telephone or through online platforms.

With the motif of 'Wondrous Encounters,' the festival is scheduled to run from May 3 to June 7. This period will see the festival presenting 19 handpicked events that explore various art forms including theater, Chinese opera, dance, circus, music, and visual arts.

Marking a return to cultural vibrancy post-pandemic, the 34th edition of FAM is set to offer a contemporary twist to classic artistic expressions. Kicking off the festival is a modern version of 'Jungle Book,' the iconic story by Rudyard Kipling, now interpreted through dance theater by British artist Akram Khan and his crew. This adaptation is designed to stir thoughts on human survival from the innocence of a child’s viewpoint.

Bringing the festival to an end will be an exceptional Sino-Portuguese Concert, starring Portuguese pop rock ensemble Capitão Fausto and the versatile musician David Huang. This collaborative performance aims to foster a rich Sino-Portuguese cultural encounter through their music.

The festival also shines a spotlight on the contemporary ballet 'Sleeping Beauty,' conceived by Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau, alongside the celebrated Lyon Opera Ballet. This production is set out to transform the audience's perception of the familiar fairy tale.

Local talent is not left unfeatured at the festival, with productions like 'A Star is Arriving,' 'Frankenstein/Creatures,' and 'Impression of Iec Long' contributing to the festival's diverse program.

Short Film Festival Thrives

Parallel to the FAM, the First Macao International Shorts Film Festival is well underway, having started on Saturday and set to conclude on March 30. This cinematic celebration is divided into four categories: 'Macao Shorts,' 'New Voices from Horizon,' 'Director in Focus,' and 'Special Screenings.'

Over 50 short films of varying genres will be showcased at the Galaxy Cinemas and Cinematheque.Passion. The event culminates on March 29 with an awards ceremony planned to take place at the Galaxy International Convention Center.

The section dedicated to 'Macao Shorts' involves ten competitive films vying for the 'Best Macao Short' Award. Additionally, 'New Voices from Horizon' includes 26 international films competing for accolades in categories like 'Best Short Film,' 'Best Technical Contribution,' 'Best Director,' and 'Innovative Storytelling.'

The festival also honors the acclaimed Japanese director Shunji Iwai in the 'Director in Focus' segment, during which he will present his filmic wisdom. Lastly, in 'Special Screenings,' audiences will have the chance to engage with post-screening discussions for a more immersive experience.

Arts, Festival, Films