MGTO Representatives

Note: All information is correct at the time of release.

Events & Festivals

3rd “Encounter in Macao” highlights city’s cultural diversity

The 3rd “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will be held from November to December this year. The event is held under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, and is organised by the Macao SAR Government Cultural Affairs Bureau, and co-organised by Macao Government Tourism Office.

This year’s edition features six highlights: the Lusofonia Festival; the Traditional Music and Dance Performance in the Community; the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival; the Annual Arts Exhibition between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; The Belt and Road Cultural Talk Series – Samba and Dance; and the Taipa Houses 100th Anniversary Activities. 

The “Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” showcases the culture and customs of the Mainland and of the Portuguese-speaking countries via an array of activities, building Macao as a platform for cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and offering residents and tourists a unique cultural experience.

Stunning performances

The “Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will offer a series of performances to the community. The “Dance and Singing Group” from Fujian province, and six groups representing local Portuguese-speaking communities, will present performances of traditional music and dance on the weekend of 6 and 7 November in different outdoor spots around the city. The groups showcase the unique charm of performing arts and culture from the Mainland, and from the Portuguese-speaking countries, in order to create a festive atmosphere.

The “Annual Arts Exhibition between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” features two exhibitions,  themed “Embrace of Diversity” and “Symbiosis”. Opening 6 November at the Macao Contemporary Art Center – Navy Yard No. 1, “Embrace of Diversity” brings together contemporary artwork from  17 artists from the eight Portuguese-speaking countries. “Symbiosis” will be unveiled 11 November at the Tap Seac Gallery, presenting works from five artists from Macao and five from other Greater Bay Area cities. Both exhibitions run until 31 December.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Taipa Houses, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will hold a series of themed activities every Saturday and Sunday of November, including “Guided Tours at Taipa Houses” and a “Paper Cut Light Box DIY Workshop”.

In “The Belt and Road Cultural Talk Series – Samba and Dance”, Jin Xinyi and Zhang Jianbo, two specialists in Portuguese literature and cultural studies, have been invited to present two talks, titled respectively “Feminist Literature in the Portuguese-speaking African Countries” to be conducted on 14 November, and “Brazilian Literature and the Image of Brazil in the World of Literature” on 27 November.

For more information about the event and its activities, please either visit the official website at www.icm.gov.mo/FCP, follow the “IC Art” page on Facebook, or subscribe to the official WeChat account “IC_Art_Macao”.

The organiser will strictly follow the relevant anti-epidemic guidelines from the Health Bureau. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks, present a valid “Macao Health Code”, and comply with the epidemic-control measures and crowd-control measures on site.

Lusofonia Festival back in December
 
The annual Lusofonia Festival, celebrating the Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao’s rich heritage, returns in December. It features a line-up dedicated to promoting cultural diversity. This year once again it mostly involves local performers, due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19.
 
The 2021 Lusofonia Festival will be held at the Taipa Houses promenade from 10 to 12 December. This edition will be part of the programme for the 3rd “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”.
 
The Lusofonia Festival features a diverse programme of activities, including music and dance performances, thematic exhibition booths, and games suitable for all ages. The activities allow visitors to experience the customs of Portuguese-speaking countries and regions, amid the festival’s upbeat atmosphere.
 
Local groups representing various Portuguese-speaking communities in Macao – namely with links either to Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Goa, Daman and Diu, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Principe, Timor-Leste, or Macao itself – will have some 10 booths at the festival.
 
The booths will showcase these countries’ and regions’ traditional music, photography, arts and crafts, costumes, literature, and gastronomy.
 
Festivalgoers can also taste a wide selection of the cuisine of Portuguese-speaking countries and regions.
 
Nearly 30 local groups representing various Portuguese-speaking communities, and a troupe from Mainland China, will perform during the three-day festival.
 
The first Lusofonia Festival was held in 1998. The annual event has since become a showcase for Macao’s role as a place for cultural exchanges between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The event also allows festivalgoers to understand better the cultural heritage of each Portuguese-speaking country or region. 
 
The organiser of the festival is the Cultural Affairs Bureau. The event is co-organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Municipal Affairs Bureau.
 
The Cultural Affairs Bureau will strictly follow at the festival, the guidelines from the health authorities for countering the spread of COVID-19.
Film Festival presents a cinema feast
 
The “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival” will be held from 12 to 26 November, with the theme “The Gourmets of Cinema”.
 
The Film Festival, integrated in the 3rd “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, features 30 films, and is divided into three sections: “Contemporary China & Portuguese-speaking films”, “Macao Shorts about food & life” and “Flavours of China & Portuguese-speaking Countries”.
 
The event features films with a gastronomic theme, both in Chinese and Portuguese, allowing the audience to enjoy stories produced by local filmmakers as well. A series of outreach activities is also part of the programme, including post-screening talks, lectures, and cuisine workshops.
 
The Film Festival is organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, with the support of integrated resort operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.
 
The opening film, “This Is Not What I Expected”, will be screened on 12 November, at 7:30 p.m., at the Galaxy Cinemas. The remaining movies will be screened at the Cinematheque・Passion, and tickets went on sale on 29 October.
 
This year, the Film Festival will also collaborate with local restaurants on promotional activities. Members of the public who participate in these activities at selected restaurants at the Broadway Food Street Fair, from 29 October to 11 November, will be eligible to receive a coupon to redeem two tickets for the opening film “This Is Not What I Expected”.
 
The latest edition of the Film Festival will also launch the “Gourmet of Cinema Card”, offering special discounts to the public.
 
The Film Festival, in collaboration with local restaurants, will host two workshops, including the “Portuguese Cuisine Workshop” on 13 November and the “Chinese Cuisine Parent-Child Workshop” on 21 November, respectively, where professional chefs will guide participants to make traditional Portuguese snacks, and classic dishes of Macao restaurants. Both activities will be conducted in Cantonese, and admission is free.