The rhythms of Fantasporto are very different from the film festivals I am used to in Asia. At PIFF or PiFan, the first films of the day typically start around 11am, and they run every two hours or so until the last screening around 9pm.

But here, first screenings are at 3pm, and the last screening is around 11, so they whole day is much later. Which is quite nice, actually. It gives you time to sleep in, do some sightseeing, and then make your way to the theater in a very leisurely manner.

Fantasporto - theater
(This is the theater where all the movies are screened)

The oddest thing about this schedule, however, is when the Fantasporto organizers want to have some sort of event. Because the afternoon and evening are filled with movies, we end up having cocktail receptions at 11am. This morning, we gathered at the Porto Town Hall at 11am for some port wine and a little hobnobbing with local dignitaries. All very nice (and the Porto Town Hall is quite majestic), but it is a little odd drinking port before noon. Not that anyone was forcing us to drink, I guess.

Fantasporto - City Hall
(Porto City Hall)

Fantasporto - Beatrice
(Beatrice, one of the festival bosses, speaking at City Hall)

Fantasporto - Mario
(And this is the infamous Mario, also at City Hall)

And then there is Portuguese food, which thus far has been incredibly rich, even compared to the food in Spain that I have gotten used to. Most notably so far has been a chicken-rice stew, with the broth made from red wine and chicken blood. Complete with heady goodness.

Fantasporto - chickenhead

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* I should mention that this is just day 3 of Fantasporto for me. The festival actually runs Feb. 26 to March 6, but I arrived halfway through.