“O Meu Caminho” documentary distinguished in Rotterdam
The Portuguese documentary “O Meu Caminho” (My Camino), directed by Pedro Gil de Vasconcelos, received an Honorable Mention in the category of Best Smartphone-Produced Film at the Tulip International Film Festival, held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The short film was shot entirely with a smartphone and follows a 240-kilometer pilgrimage along the Camino of Geira and Arrieiros, between Braga and Santiago de Compostela.
The distinction was awarded in the same week that the Galician regional government officially recognized the Geira and Arrieiros as a Cultural Camino. This timing coincided with the documentary’s fortieth official selection at international film festivals. According to the director, the proximity of these events highlights the connection between the historic route and the outreach work developed through cinema.
Since its release, “O Meu Caminho” has been screened at around 40 film festivals across five continents. Overall, it has received 19 awards, seven honorable mentions, including the one now awarded in Rotterdam, and four selections as a finalist or semifinalist, marking a consistent presence on the international circuit.
With an intimate and spontaneous approach, the documentary combines the physical demands of the route with the emotional dimension of pilgrimage. The film is part of the so-called “Trilogia da Geira e Arrieiros” (Geira and Arrieiros Trilogy), which also includes the guide “O Meu Caminho da Geira e Arrieiros – O Guia” (My Camino of Geira and Arrieiros – The Guide) and the novel “O Escritor de Epitáfios” (The Writer of Epitaphs), both published by Editorial Novembro. The purchase of either book includes access to the documentary.
According to the author, the set of works aims to promote this historic itinerary and to encourage its responsible use, emphasizing the need to preserve the natural, historical, and cultural heritage it crosses, namely the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the Baixa Limia-Serra of Xurés Natural Park.
