News
Programme Preview: MOTELX 2026 (20th Edition)
MOTELX unveils the first titles and sections of its 20th edition, celebrating two decades of horror cinema in Lisbon, from 3 to 13 September, at Cinema São Jorge and Cinemateca Portuguesa.
Horror is knocking on the door again. And this time it's wearing its most terrifying suit.
The very special 20th edition of MOTELX - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, presented tonight, 15 July 2026, runs from 3 to 13 September — for the first time over 11 days — at Cinema São Jorge and Cinemateca Portuguesa.
MOTELX's 20th anniversary celebrations are already underway, with several Warm-Up dates filling the city right up to the eve of the Festival. Here we reveal a substantial slice of the upcoming edition. The full programme will be announced in August.
Noémia Delgado Award for Outstanding Women in Horror
After honouring Gale Anne Hurd, the award goes in 2026 to Swedish-born, Portuguese-naturalised filmmaker Solveig Nordlund, one of the pioneering women of fantastic and horror cinema. The Festival screens the 4K restored version of "Aparelho Voador a Baixa Altitude" ("Low Altitude Flying Device").
First Titles – Feature Films
Ten international features join the Room Service section:
"AnyMart" (Japan), by Yusuke Iwasaki — exposes the dark side of Japan's working world.
"The Birthday Party" (Belgium/France), by Léa Mysius — a psychological thriller starring Monica Bellucci.
"Fuck My Son!" (USA), by Todd Rohal — an X-rated, tasteless comedy.
"The Furious" (Hong Kong), by Kenji Tanigaki — a relentless, bloody action ride.
"Game" (UK), by John Minton — starring Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods), written and produced by Geoff Barrow (Portishead).
"Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant" (New Zealand), by duo THUNDERLIPS — a sci-fi comedy.
"One Spoon of Chocolate" (USA) — RZA's (Wu-Tang Clan) fourth film, a revenge thriller executive produced by Quentin Tarantino.
"Our Effed Up World" (Australia/Canada), by Alice Maio Mackay — a group of friends deals with an alien invasion.
"Species" (Belgium/France), by Marion Le Correller — body horror.
"Poultry Farm" (Iran), by Mohammadreza Ardalan — an orphan caught in a macabre feud between two shady rural landowners.
Lost in Europe: Horror Behind the Iron Curtain
A new section, in partnership with Cinemateca Portuguesa, dedicated to rediscovering horror cinema from the countries of the former Iron Curtain: "Ferat Vampire" (Czechoslovakia, 1981), by Juraj Herz
"Possession" (France/West Germany, 1981), by Andrzej Żuławski
"The Rat Saviour" (Yugoslavia, 1976), by Krsto Papic
"The Singing, Ringing Tree" (East Germany, 1957), by Francesco Stefani
"Strangler vs Strangler" (Yugoslavia, 1985), by Slobodan Šijan
"Werewolf" (USSR, 1968), by Leida Laius
Talking About Death (Never Killed Anyone)
A special section created in partnership with Goethe-Institut Portugal, featuring three central works of German-language genre cinema: "The Death King" (1988), by Jörg Buttgereit "Nekromantik" (1988), by Jörg Buttgereit "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979), by Werner Herzog
Lost Room: The Enigmatic Trilogy of Sá Caetano
In 2026, the section focuses on Portuguese director José de Sá Caetano, through his trilogy: "Ruínas no Interior (Corpos Celestes)" ("Ruins Within [Celestial Bodies]", 1977), "Um S Marginal" ("An Outlaw S", 1983) and "Azul Azul" ("Blue Blue", 1986).
Cult Room: Lost in Translation
Two films united by their unusual relationship with audiovisual translation: "Kung Fu à Portuguesa" ("Portuguese-Style Kung Fu"), a Taiwanese martial arts classic released in Portugal with original subtitles written by Raúl Solnado and Pedro Bandeira-Freire, and the rare English-language version of "A Teia de Gelo" ("The Ice Web", 2012), by Nicolau Breyner.
Suite 13
The section presents the programme "Sergio Martino and Acid Giallo: Atmospheres That Cloud the Senses", curated by guest programmer Carlos Alberto Carrilho. The line-up will be announced shortly.
MOTELX Award – Best Portuguese Horror Short Film
Ten shorts compete for the €5,000 prize: "amordemoura", "A Hora do Chico", "Bruno, o Boneco", "Consolatio", "consumido", "Estou Aqui", "Final da Noite", "Royal", "Spirit Caller" and "Tardo".
Méliès d'Argent Award – Best European Short Film
Among the Portuguese shorts already confirmed in competition: "A Onda", "Calhau", "Codec: ♥ Amanda ♥", "Cure My Misery", "Katabasis", "Olhos, Olhos, Nariz, Boca", "Quietud" and "Sweet Hearts".
SectionX
Three directors whose films engage with today's subversive institutional power: "Chronovisor" (USA), by Jack Auen and Kevin Walker; "Sunshine Express" (Iran), a Kafkaesque allegory in reality-show format; and "Variations on Violence" (USA), by Zachary Aaron Nichols.
Bad Wolf
Back with the traditional Peddy Paper at Cinema São Jorge, the ALMA Sensory Workshop, Short Scares sessions for various age groups, and a nationwide premiere feature film. Also new this year: a photography workshop led by Bernardo Gramaxo in partnership with Associação Passa Sabi.
MOTELX Award – Best Portuguese Horror Screenplay
The fourth edition of the award, worth €2,000, has seven feature screenplays in competition: "A Ostra", "Hóspede", "O Silêncio que Fica", "Privação (Ou Coisas Ditas de Joelhos)", "Púcaro Negro", "Rosa dos Ventos" and "Todas as Respostas".
Events
"Hotel Pastiche" Exhibition — by João Telmo (Nova Companhia), reimagines 10 scenes from classic horror films set in a hotel, on show throughout the 11 days of the Festival.
Monster Day (5 September) — a day dedicated to the monster as a figure of horror, with a workshop, a Monster Contest (€500 prize) and a closing party at the MOTELX Lounge.
Warm-Up
MOTELX's 20th anniversary celebrations have already begun and run through July and August:
31 July, midnight — "Saccharine" (Australia), at Cinema Nimas (Nimas After Hours)
1 August, 9pm — Short Film Session + DJ Set, at Casa do Comum
14 August, 6pm and 9pm — Outdoor Cinema: Bad Wolf Session and "The Guest" (USA, 2014), at Jardim das Amoreiras
27 August, 9pm — "The Others" (Spain/USA/France, 2001), at Palácio do Grilo, with Black Cat Cinema.
The full programme for MOTELX's 20th edition will be announced in August.
The very special 20th edition of MOTELX - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, presented tonight, 15 July 2026, runs from 3 to 13 September — for the first time over 11 days — at Cinema São Jorge and Cinemateca Portuguesa.
MOTELX's 20th anniversary celebrations are already underway, with several Warm-Up dates filling the city right up to the eve of the Festival. Here we reveal a substantial slice of the upcoming edition. The full programme will be announced in August.
Noémia Delgado Award for Outstanding Women in Horror
After honouring Gale Anne Hurd, the award goes in 2026 to Swedish-born, Portuguese-naturalised filmmaker Solveig Nordlund, one of the pioneering women of fantastic and horror cinema. The Festival screens the 4K restored version of "Aparelho Voador a Baixa Altitude" ("Low Altitude Flying Device").
First Titles – Feature Films
Ten international features join the Room Service section:
"AnyMart" (Japan), by Yusuke Iwasaki — exposes the dark side of Japan's working world.
"The Birthday Party" (Belgium/France), by Léa Mysius — a psychological thriller starring Monica Bellucci.
"Fuck My Son!" (USA), by Todd Rohal — an X-rated, tasteless comedy.
"The Furious" (Hong Kong), by Kenji Tanigaki — a relentless, bloody action ride.
"Game" (UK), by John Minton — starring Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods), written and produced by Geoff Barrow (Portishead).
"Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant" (New Zealand), by duo THUNDERLIPS — a sci-fi comedy.
"One Spoon of Chocolate" (USA) — RZA's (Wu-Tang Clan) fourth film, a revenge thriller executive produced by Quentin Tarantino.
"Our Effed Up World" (Australia/Canada), by Alice Maio Mackay — a group of friends deals with an alien invasion.
"Species" (Belgium/France), by Marion Le Correller — body horror.
"Poultry Farm" (Iran), by Mohammadreza Ardalan — an orphan caught in a macabre feud between two shady rural landowners.
Lost in Europe: Horror Behind the Iron Curtain
A new section, in partnership with Cinemateca Portuguesa, dedicated to rediscovering horror cinema from the countries of the former Iron Curtain: "Ferat Vampire" (Czechoslovakia, 1981), by Juraj Herz
"Possession" (France/West Germany, 1981), by Andrzej Żuławski
"The Rat Saviour" (Yugoslavia, 1976), by Krsto Papic
"The Singing, Ringing Tree" (East Germany, 1957), by Francesco Stefani
"Strangler vs Strangler" (Yugoslavia, 1985), by Slobodan Šijan
"Werewolf" (USSR, 1968), by Leida Laius
Talking About Death (Never Killed Anyone)
A special section created in partnership with Goethe-Institut Portugal, featuring three central works of German-language genre cinema: "The Death King" (1988), by Jörg Buttgereit "Nekromantik" (1988), by Jörg Buttgereit "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979), by Werner Herzog
Lost Room: The Enigmatic Trilogy of Sá Caetano
In 2026, the section focuses on Portuguese director José de Sá Caetano, through his trilogy: "Ruínas no Interior (Corpos Celestes)" ("Ruins Within [Celestial Bodies]", 1977), "Um S Marginal" ("An Outlaw S", 1983) and "Azul Azul" ("Blue Blue", 1986).
Cult Room: Lost in Translation
Two films united by their unusual relationship with audiovisual translation: "Kung Fu à Portuguesa" ("Portuguese-Style Kung Fu"), a Taiwanese martial arts classic released in Portugal with original subtitles written by Raúl Solnado and Pedro Bandeira-Freire, and the rare English-language version of "A Teia de Gelo" ("The Ice Web", 2012), by Nicolau Breyner.
Suite 13
The section presents the programme "Sergio Martino and Acid Giallo: Atmospheres That Cloud the Senses", curated by guest programmer Carlos Alberto Carrilho. The line-up will be announced shortly.
MOTELX Award – Best Portuguese Horror Short Film
Ten shorts compete for the €5,000 prize: "amordemoura", "A Hora do Chico", "Bruno, o Boneco", "Consolatio", "consumido", "Estou Aqui", "Final da Noite", "Royal", "Spirit Caller" and "Tardo".
Méliès d'Argent Award – Best European Short Film
Among the Portuguese shorts already confirmed in competition: "A Onda", "Calhau", "Codec: ♥ Amanda ♥", "Cure My Misery", "Katabasis", "Olhos, Olhos, Nariz, Boca", "Quietud" and "Sweet Hearts".
SectionX
Three directors whose films engage with today's subversive institutional power: "Chronovisor" (USA), by Jack Auen and Kevin Walker; "Sunshine Express" (Iran), a Kafkaesque allegory in reality-show format; and "Variations on Violence" (USA), by Zachary Aaron Nichols.
Bad Wolf
Back with the traditional Peddy Paper at Cinema São Jorge, the ALMA Sensory Workshop, Short Scares sessions for various age groups, and a nationwide premiere feature film. Also new this year: a photography workshop led by Bernardo Gramaxo in partnership with Associação Passa Sabi.
MOTELX Award – Best Portuguese Horror Screenplay
The fourth edition of the award, worth €2,000, has seven feature screenplays in competition: "A Ostra", "Hóspede", "O Silêncio que Fica", "Privação (Ou Coisas Ditas de Joelhos)", "Púcaro Negro", "Rosa dos Ventos" and "Todas as Respostas".
Events
"Hotel Pastiche" Exhibition — by João Telmo (Nova Companhia), reimagines 10 scenes from classic horror films set in a hotel, on show throughout the 11 days of the Festival.
Monster Day (5 September) — a day dedicated to the monster as a figure of horror, with a workshop, a Monster Contest (€500 prize) and a closing party at the MOTELX Lounge.
Warm-Up
MOTELX's 20th anniversary celebrations have already begun and run through July and August:
31 July, midnight — "Saccharine" (Australia), at Cinema Nimas (Nimas After Hours)
1 August, 9pm — Short Film Session + DJ Set, at Casa do Comum
14 August, 6pm and 9pm — Outdoor Cinema: Bad Wolf Session and "The Guest" (USA, 2014), at Jardim das Amoreiras
27 August, 9pm — "The Others" (Spain/USA/France, 2001), at Palácio do Grilo, with Black Cat Cinema.
The full programme for MOTELX's 20th edition will be announced in August.