When 400 people get together in the village of Pêra, you can be sure that it is for a great event. And that was exactly what happened last week when the Oscars came to Pêra, with the red carpet laid out at the Cultural Centre.
The glamour did not end with the red carpet, as the school students and guests dressed up for the occasion.
As with the other Oscar ceremonies there was an ‘A’ list of attendees included HM Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, Clive Jewell, British Vice Consul, Rosa Palma, Mayor of Silves (who celebrated her birthday at the event), and representatives from freguesias around the concelho. Various Rotary clubs from across the Algarve were represented, supporting this great educative project.
The British Ambassador was full of praise for the event “…. The quality of the entries was very high and the whole event rather inspirational.” She went on to congratulate Alan Winn, the current president of Silves Rotary and his wife Pam who worked tirelessly on the project, along with Rotarian Isabel Flores, concluding “I’d certainly be keen to attend again”.
Escolas de SilvesSul and Wildern School from the UK have worked in partnership to develop this event, modelled on a similar ceremony held annually at Wildern School. Six students from Wildern School and two teachers joined the students of Escolas de SilvesSul on the red carpet. Sixty films, along with 40 pieces of artwork and photographs were submitted for the Oscars. Fifty were nominated across nine categories from Best Short Film, Best International Film, Best Primary School Film through to Best Artwork and Photography. To whoops of delight from the students of SilvesSul, the winners were drawn from the gold envelopes. The judges presented the Oscars and prizes to the winners who gave a short thank you speech – none of which was accompanied by tears, but huge smiles of delight.
Alan Winn, President of Silves Rotary Club added a big thank you to the staff of the school who helped make this project happen and the judging panel for the nominees. Carla Mourinho Cidalia Azinheiro, Daniel Cavalho and Diretor Carlos Silva.
Alan said “We would particularly like to thank Projection Dreams for their sponsorship and Wildern School for their help and experience. Pupils from the Algarve and the UK have formed strong friendships and look forward to meeting again in July at the Wildern Oscars and future Oscar ceremonies in the Algarve on an annual basis”.
For more information on this event or on the work of Silves Rotary Club please visit www.silvesrotaryclub.org.