FOGO FRIO (2024)

Not Portuguese enough. Not Canadian enough. Just ash. A love letter to a cinema that never loved you back.

FOGO FRIO (2024) poster

Fogo Frio is a contemplative meditation on Portuguese cinema and identity, framed by critic Justine Peres Smith’s haunting narration. Two landscapes—a Portuguese family home and Quebec’s Laurentian wilderness—merge in a dreamlike exploration of memory and artistic belonging. At its center, Lloyd burns letters in a fire, perhaps including Justine’s own words ("Dear Lloyd... Yours truly, Justine"). Their ambiguous bond mirrors the film’s tension between tradition and reinvention. Born from the director’s resistance to conventional "Portuguese cinema," Fogo Frio becomes a personal reckoning—a collaborative, improvisational work that challenges the solitary auteur myth. Through fire, silence, and stark beauty, it asks: How do we make art on our own terms?

Director: Chico Peres Smith
Runtime: 10 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Editing: Chico Peres Smith
Country: Portugal, Canada
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Chico Peres Smith

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FOGO FRIO about?
Fogo Frio is a contemplative meditation on Portuguese cinema and identity, framed by critic Justine Peres Smith’s haunting narration. Two landscapes—a Portuguese family home and Quebec’s Laurentian wilderness—merge in a dreamlike exploration of memory and artistic belonging. At its center, Lloyd burns letters in a fire, perhaps including Justine’s own words ("Dear Lloyd... Yours truly, Justine"). Their ambiguous bond mirrors the film’s tension between tradition and reinvention. Born from the director’s resistance to conventional "Portuguese cinema," Fogo Frio becomes a personal reckoning—a collaborative, improvisational work that challenges the solitary auteur myth. Through fire, silence, and stark beauty, it asks: How do we make art on our own terms?
Who directed FOGO FRIO?
FOGO FRIO was directed by Chico Peres Smith.
Who stars in FOGO FRIO?
FOGO FRIO stars Justine Smith, Lloyd Smith.
How long is FOGO FRIO?
FOGO FRIO has a runtime of 10m (10 minutes).
Where was FOGO FRIO produced?
FOGO FRIO was produced in Portugal, Canada.