Short film Faisão Award in the UK: Beatriz Silvestre conquers festival

When creativity meets opportunity, stories are born that cross borders. This is what happened with Faisão (Pheasant), the film directed by graduate student Beatriz Silvestre, which won the audience and the jury of the First Frame Film Festival, in the United Kingdom. With an intense narrative, a visually striking poster and a ravishing interpretation by actress Nicole Ribeiro, this project born at ETIC_Algarve transforms an academic work into a true award-winning work.

Award-winning ‘Faisão’ film brings ETIC_Algarve talent to the UK!

When creative training turns into international recognition, stories are born that deserve to be told. The award-winning film “Faisão“, directed by Beatriz Silvestre, a graduate of Film and TV Production 23|25 at ETIC_Algarve, won the jury of the First Frame Film Festival and took home the Best Actress Award, awarded to the protagonist Nicole Ribeiro.

This collaboration between courses reinforces one of the pillars of our school: multidisciplinary work. Here, different creative areas intersect, grow together and with results that are seen, felt and, now, rewarded.

An academic project with international recognition

The film “Faisão” was born in the Final project module of 1.º year, key moment in the formation of the technical courses of ETIC_Algarve. It is at this stage that the trainees gather all the technical and creative tools acquired and immerse themselves in the creation of an authorial project, with total artistic freedom — always closely accompanied by the trainers.

The realization, production, script and editing were led by Beatriz Silvestre, who led a team formed by fellow students, and who demonstrated how to work in a team, have artistic maturity and refined aesthetic sense among the graduates of the course of realization, film and TV, and Myllena Ferreira of the course Communication Design and Multimedia 23/25 that created the image of the poster.

Film synopsis

“Pheasant hunting” is a metaphor that relates the female figure to the predestined life of a pheasant, an exotic bird, admired for its beauty but constantly hunted.
The film’s narrative builds as an allegory to the silent and systematic abuse that so many women face around the world. Like the Pheasant, the protagonist of the story lives an existence marked by exploration and pain, masked by a charming appearance.
By resorting to this poetic figure, the film denounces a historical injustice, which crosses centuries and geographies, giving it shape in a visual, symbolic and deeply emotional work.

Nicole Ribeiro wins Best Actress award

The award went to Nicole Ribeiro, an Acting graduate from the University of Central Lancashire in Acting, for her intense and emotional performance in the title role. A recognition that elevates the impact of the award-winning film Faisão in this edition of the festival.

The ETIC_Algarve effect shines beyond borders with Faisão

The “Earth & Nature ” theme of the 2025 edition of the First Frame Film Festival was explored in depth by The “Faisão” team, and the screening of the film at the Attenborough Basement University Film Theatre marked a memorable moment for our academic community.

✨ Congratulations to Beatriz Silvestre, and the other members of the course Film and TV Production 23/25 , this teamwork that gave life to this project with talent, effort and vision. This is the ETIC_Algarve effect in action: turning dreams into real achievements.

About the First Frame Film Festival:

The First Frame Film Festival, promoted by the Leicester University, an international festival celebrating student-created cinema. The EDI Elimo 2025, held between April 11 and 12, was dedicated to the theme “Earth & nature” and took place at the Attenborough Basement University Film Theatre in the United Kingdom.

The selection of “Faisão ” among dozens of international applications was already a remarkable feat. Winning the Best Actress award further enhances the impact of this production and reinforces ETIC_Algarve‘s presence on the European map of student cinema.