Created to make cinema more inclusive, the programme presents a selection of short films — Rio Remains Beautiful by Felipe Casanova, Mocidade Mocidade by João Mendes Pinto, and City of Owls by Zhenia Kazankina — accompanied by Portuguese Sign Language (LGP) interpretation and SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). More than simply making the films accessible, the initiative aims to create a space for dialogue, participation, and meaningful engagement between Deaf audiences and the wider festival community.

Following the screening, Ângelo Matos, a young activist and one of Portugal's leading advocates for Deaf rights, will join film critic and researcher Cátia Rodrigues for a conversation. The discussion will be interpreted into Portuguese Sign Language by Diogo Rodrigues and Sofia Brízida, fostering an open dialogue between the guests, filmmakers, and audience. The session is recommended for audiences aged 12 and over, with a symbolic cust of €2, reinforcing the festival's commitment to making cinema accessible to everyone.

The program was conceived and coordinated by Maria Moreira, head of the Communities Department and a member of the festival team who is deaf in one ear due to sensorineural hearing loss. Her personal experience reinforces the project’s commitment to developing cultural initiatives that are more accessible and better reflect the needs of the deaf community.

Although important progress has been made in recent years, Deaf audiences continue to face significant barriers when accessing cinema. Many films — including a large number of Portuguese productions — are still screened without accessible subtitles or other accessibility features, limiting the full participation of Deaf and hard of hearing communities in cultural life.

With Gesto, Curtas Vila do Conde seeks to help change this reality by placing accessibility at the heart of its cultural programming. Beyond responding to a specific need, the initiative aims to encourage festivals, cinemas, distributors, and producers to consistently incorporate accessibility measures into their programmes, helping to make cinema a truly inclusive space for all.