The Sophia Awards are the Portuguese cinematographic and film awards, assigned annually, which aim to recognize the best national productions. Its name was chosen in honor of the Portuguese poet and writer Sophia de Mello Breyner Andersen and also because "Sophia" is a classic Greek name which means "wisdom" .[1]
History
The awards were instituted in 2012, a year after the creation of the Portuguese Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The president, Paulo Trancoso, said that the main idea was to create a form of recognizing and congratulate the excellence in cinema in the country having in mind other annual awards in Europe like the Goya Awards in Spain or the César Awards in France.[1]
The first edition took place on November 26, 2012, at the Cinemateca Portuguesa, where three Career Awards were given to the film director and producer António da Cunha Teles, the filmmaker António de Macedo and the actress Isabel Ruth.[2]
Categories
The Sophia Awards are awarded in 22 categories, with a maximum of four candidates for each.
As of 2021:
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Documentary Feature
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Sound
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- Best Original Score
- Best Art Direction
- Best Characterization/Special Effects
- Best Costume Design
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- Best Series/Television film
- Best Live Action Short Film
- Best Documentary Short Film
- Best Animated Short Film
- Best Trailer
- Best Poster
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The following are also assigned:
- Sophia Art and Technique Award
- Sophia Career Award
- Sophia Student Award
- The Sophia Student Award stands out as it gets awarded after a submission and selection phase. The main goal is to encourage future cineasts and their education institutions to share their work.[5]
