UAlg Students Win the 2nd Edition of the SEA-EU Film Festival

Inspired by a personal experience of loss and recovery, Purring Memories tells the story of Clara, a lonely woman whose life is transformed by the arrival of a stray cat. Through their companionship, the protagonist revisits painful memories and finds the courage to build new connections. The short film sensitively explores themes such as guilt, longing, and the power of empathy.

Participation in the SEA-EU Film Festival emerged, for both young creators, “as an opportunity to share a personal and emotional story with a wider audience”, giving visibility to the work developed throughout their degree and celebrating the collective effort behind the project. For Isabela and Beatriz, the festival also represented “a chance to express their artistic vision through animation” and to convey “a message capable of touching and inspiring the audience.”

According to the winners, the title Purring Memories combines “the comfort and sweetness of a cat’s purr with the emotional weight of the memories it evokes”, symbolising the balance between pain and tenderness.

Created using 2D frame-by-frame animation, the film was developed over several months in a demanding and meticulous process. Isabela was responsible for animation, colouring, and editing, while Beatriz contributed to background painting, clean-up, and sound. The project also featured Bruno Vieira, who composed the original soundtrack. “It was an intense but rewarding process,” they recall. “We spent countless hours adjusting colours, rhythm, and details until every movement conveyed exactly the emotion we wanted,” they explain.

For the authors, this recognition represents both artistic and personal validation. “Being acknowledged for something so personal, into which I poured body and soul, is an enormous validation—not only of the technical work but of the courage to turn emotions into art,” says Isabela Mendes. Beatriz Puga adds: “It’s deeply rewarding to know that the film resonated with others; it motivates me to keep creating with honesty and sensitivity.”

The SEA-EU Film Festival is an initiative of the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU) that celebrates the creativity and artistic spirit of students from the partner universities. This year, the event is part of the Staff Week “SEA Heritages in the Algarve”, organised by the Research Centre in Arts and Communication (CIAC) at the University of Algarve, within the framework of the Alliance’s activities.

The presentation of the second edition of the festival will take place on 29 October, starting at 09:45, in the José Silvestre Lecture Hall of the Higher Institute of Engineering (ISE) – Penha Campus, in Faro.

This edition received 25 submissions, 11 of which came from University of Algarve students, reflecting the dynamism and talent of the academic community in the fields of image and animation. In addition to the winning film, the event will feature a diverse and engaging selection of short films produced by students from SEA-EU partner universities and other European institutions.

Looking ahead, Isabela Mendes plans to continue exploring authorial animation and emotional storytelling, developing new short films and collaborating on larger projects. Beatriz Puga, in turn, aims to deepen her path in illustration and character design, while maintaining a close connection to the world of animation, which she believes has “an infinite potential to tell human stories in a unique and emotionally powerful way.”

With this award, the young creators reinforce the University of Algarve’s role in nurturing new talent in animation and visual arts, as well as the commitment of the SEA-EU Alliance and CIAC to fostering creativity, cultural expression, and international collaboration.

Through initiatives such as the SEA-EU Film Festival, the University of Algarve continues to establish itself as a space for artistic innovation and the intersection of human and creative experiences—where art becomes a vehicle for sharing, reflection, and emotion.

Cover of the short film Purring Memories – The Little Intruder Who Stayed