Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual

The Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual, IP - ICA, IP, is a public institute integrated in the indirect administration of the State, endowed with administrative and financial autonomy and its own patrimony, protected by the Secretary of State for Culture, whose mission is to support the development cinematographic and audiovisual activities.

It was created in 1971 with the purpose of encouraging and discipline cinematographic activities in its industrial and commercial modalities for the production, distribution and exhibition of films, to represent Portuguese cinema in international organizations, to promote the international relations of Portuguese cinema in the cultural, economic and financial fields and to foster the cinematographic culture.

It is the responsibility of ICA to award financial support annually through a public tender, publicized through an advertisement published in two general information newspapers, nationally and widely circulated, and also published on the official website of the ICA.

In each contest, the selection of the projects is done by a jury, annually approved by SECA - Specialized Section of Cinema and Audiovisual of the National Council of Culture, chosen from personalities of recognized curriculum, capacity and suitability and recognized cultural merit.

The decision on the allocation of the financial amounts is the responsibility of the ICA, according to the ordered list of classification of the projects, approved by the respective jury.

ICA is the entity responsible for registering companies and for cinematographic and audiovisual works. It is the responsibility of the ICA to contribute to a better knowledge of the cinema and audiovisual sectors.