The short film marks Susa Monteiro's debut in animation.
A lone man crosses landscapes, with no way of knowing whether he's running from something or heading somewhere: this is the starting point of "Vagabundo", Susa Monteiro's animated short, part of the Short Film International Competition at the 13th Riga IFF – International Film Festival, running from 15 to 25 October 2026.
Riga IFF's Short Film International Competition nominates a candidate for the European Film Awards (EFA) in the short film category every year. In 2019, "Uncle Thomas, Accounting for the Days", by Regina Pessoa, was the first film selected by the festival for that nomination.
"Vagabundo" is produced by Praça Filmes, run by José Miguel Ribeiro, and will screen in the "Pains, Trains and Other Mobiles" session, on 22 October 2026. Tickets for the session are already on sale on the festival's website.
Susa Monteiro was born and lives in Beja. She trained in Stage and Costume Design and has worked as an illustrator and comic book author, with work published in Portugal and abroad — including two comic books published recently. After a career devoted to still imagery, "Vagabundo" is the first animated short signed by the illustrator.
