MOTELX's most competitive section continues to be the
Best Portuguese Horror Short Film Award. This was another year of strong participation, with
12 films in competition that demonstrate the vitality of national horror, exploring a diversity of themes in their narratives.
Social issues emerge in works such as "
Beep" (violence in big cities) and "
The Next Step" (housing insecurity), contrasting with the complexity of human relationships portrayed in "
The Hateful" (fathers and sons), "
Black Arroio" (mothers and daughters), and "
The Composer" (teacher and student). Narratives centered on female perspectives, such as "
Soul", "
Strangers", and "
Islander", also stand out. In turn, “
RESUT” and “
Inclosed” address themes related to mental health, while, in a more humorous tone, “
Here In Aveiro” presents a couple in shock, and “
Parousia” brings a touch of Lovecraft in the Porto style.
Twelve short films were selected, exploring a variety of themes in their narratives, for the largest, most ferocious and bloodthirsty, but also the most generous (€5,000) short film competition in Portugal, which has reaffirmed and strengthened genre film production in Portugal since 2009.
MOTELX Award - Best Portuguese Horror Short Film 2025: in the end, there can be only one!