Doclisboa, one of Europe’s leading documentary film festivals, and Apordoc, the Portuguese documentary association, have released a statement expressing their support for the strike called for this Friday, 17 October, by CENA-STE, the union representing performing arts workers, audiovisual workers and musicians in Portugal.

In the statement, both organisations recognise the legitimacy of the union’s demands and say they share the concerns it has raised. They also argue that the fight for better working conditions, greater job security and genuine recognition of cultural workers cannot be separated from the defence of artistic creation, its diversity and autonomy, or from the public’s right to access it.

The strike falls on one of the festival’s screening days. According to the statement, the 17 October programme had been announced well in advance by Doclisboa and by its partner and co-producing venues, but whether it goes ahead will depend on the level of participation in the strike and on the operating conditions each venue is able to guarantee. As a result, the festival warns that it cannot ensure all screenings and activities will run as planned.

Doclisboa also stresses that the festival itself is made by workers who suffer from the precariousness, lack of investment and political neglect that, it says, hit the sector hard. The organisation has pledged to keep audiences informed of any changes, with transparency and respect for the works, the filmmakers and the reasons behind the strike.