
Published —
Pet Curtas and Pet Pilates Celebrate the Bond Between People and Dogs
Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival dedicates the afternoon and evening of July 18th to companion animals with two activities: a charity Pet Pilates session and an open-air cinema Pet Curtas.
The programme begins at 6:30 pm at the Vila do Conde Memory Centre with a Pet Pilates class, organised in partnership with the Veterinary Services of Vila do Conde City Council and MOVE – Treino Personalizado. Doors open at 6:00 pm.
Led by instructor Rui Santos, the session will take place alongside dogs currently being cared for by the Municipal Veterinary Services, offering a wellbeing experience that also aims to raise awareness of responsible adoption and highlight the work carried out by the municipality's animal welfare services. For safety and organisational reasons, participation in the class will be exclusively with these dogs, and participants will not be permitted to bring their own pets.
Participants should bring their own exercise mat. The class will last approximately 45 minutes and is limited to 20 participants. Registration requires a minimum donation of €5, with all proceeds going to the associations Animais Como Nós and Patas à Solta. Registration remains open until one hour before the start of the activity, subject to availability, and participants must upload proof of payment when registering. You can register yourself at the event venue.
Later, at 9:30 pm, the gardens of the Vila do Conde Memory Centre will be transformed into an open-air cinema for the first edition of Pet Curtas, a special screening celebrating the unique relationship between humans and dogs.
Designed for audiences of all ages, the programme brings together a selection of animated films, comedies, and classic cinema that highlight the special place dogs hold in our lives, offering a fun, relaxed, and intergenerational experience in a pet-friendly setting.
The programme includes I Want a Dog by Sheldon Cohen, Feast by Patrick Osborne, Just Dogs by Burt Gillett, Mail Dog by Charles A. Nichols, Guide Dog by Bill Plympton, and Charlie Chaplin's classic A Dog's Life. In many of these films, dogs take centre stage, becoming the true stars of stories shaped by humour, adventure, tenderness, and friendship.
The screening aims to provide a safe, welcoming, and responsible environment for both people and animals, encouraging families to enjoy the experience together with their four-legged companions while reinforcing the festival's inclusive and community-focused spirit.
Participation in Pet Curtas requires a minimum donation of €1, with all proceeds also benefiting Animais Como Nós and Patas à Solta. Attendance is limited to the venue's capacity, and participation requires acceptance of the event regulations and prior completion of the registration form.
Through these two initiatives, organised in partnership with the Veterinary Services of Vila do Conde City Council, the associations Animais Como Nós and Patas à Solta, MOVE – Treino Personalizado, Clínica de Navegantes, ZU, Salsa Jeans and Vila do Conde City Council, Curtas Vila do Conde reinforces its commitment to activities designed for the whole community, promoting animal welfare, solidarity, and new ways of experiencing the festival.
Registration Form [HERE]
Other News
Curtas Vila do Conde
Contacts
Curtas Vila do Conde
International Film Festival
Praça José Régio, 110
4480-718 Vila do Conde
Portugal
T +351 25 2646516 / 252 643386 (National fixed network call)
E-mail: info@curtas.pt
© 2026 Curtas Metragens, CRL
Newsletter Subscribe
Back