25/08/2026
Finding out who you are is never easy. When your country, in this case Portugal in the 1970s, is simultaneously undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history, the journey becomes even more challenging...
This is, in a nutshell, the story of AFONSO'S SMILE by Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Rodrigues, whom we met on the set of his upcoming film.
A true coming-of-age story, as Luxembourg producer Fabrizio Maltese of Joli Rideau Media described it.
While some cast members, such as Portuguese actress Margarida Vila-Nova, had already joined the project, others found their way to the film through a twist of fate. That was the case for Gustavo Benza, who originally applied for an internship at Luxembourg's Radio Latina but ultimately landed the lead role of Afonso. As luck would have it, his CV was passed on to the film's director and producer when they visited the radio station for an interview.
On set, we were welcomed by an international crew with strong local ties, offering us a glimpse into the realities, challenges, and magic of daily life behind the camera.
As the lighting team worked to establish the film's mood, the set designers played a crucial role in transporting audiences back to 1970s Portugal by carefully recreating the period's atmosphere and visual identity.
