It is time to take this story about Portugal’s colonial past to a larger audience.
Over the last eighteen months, DIVERGENTE has published “For you, Portugal, I swear!”. The report tells the stories of the Portuguese Guinean African Commandos, the only elite troop in the history of the Portuguese army comprised entirely of African soldiers. People who, after 25 April 1974, were abandoned and left behind. Today, they are still fighting for the rights promised to them on the battlefield.
We want to tell this little-known episode in Portugal’s history to as many people as possible. In the three visits we made to Guinea-Bissau, we gathered nearly 40 hours of recordings. We have multiple interviews and a plethora of archive material that never made it into the multimedia report.
After being published on DIVERGENTE’s website, “For you, Portugal, I swear!” won seven journalism prizes in Portugal and abroad, and was shown in a number of public events, conferences and workshops. It is time to take this story about Portugal’s colonial past to a larger audience.
The film will be written and directed by Sofia da Palma Rodrigues and Diogo Cardoso, the DIVERGENTE journalists who embarked on the multimedia report and who have been studying the topic for the last seven years.
We want this documentary to be shown in cinemas, televisions, streaming platforms and schools. If, like us, you believe that this story would make a good film, support our crowdfunding campaign.
About the author
Created in 2014, DIVERGENTE is a digital magazine dedicated to portraying subjects of public interest that tend to be underrepresented in the media. It seeks to amplify the voices of those who are seldom heard and sees journalism as a tool for scrutinizing power structures, that can promote action within the population. DIVERGENTE is a non-profit organization and accepts no money for advertising.
The archival research, filming and production of the documentary “For you, Portugal, I swear!” took place between 2016 to 2021 in Guinea Bissau and Portugal.
To complete this film (editing and post-production) we need 91,071 euros. Over the last few years, we have applied for various grants and made contacts to make this project a reality. Right now, including the partnerships and support listed below, we are, at least, 5000 euros short of covering the costs of editing and colour-grading. Can we count on you?
RTP | 12,200 euros for archive access and image licensing;
Investment from the DIVERGENTE team | 35,450 euros for production and research, material loan, initial editing, translation and subtitling in English and Portuguese [a large part of the film is in Creole];
Instituto de Cinema e Audiovisual (ICA) | 39,051 euros for original soundtrack, sound editing and sound and image post-production, executive production [we are awaiting the results of the tender];
Crowdfunding | 5000 euros for final editing and colour-grading;
Visual and sound editing and post-production will be completed throughout 2023. Between the end of 2023 and September 2024 “For you, Portugal, I swear!” will be screened at Portugal-wide and international documentary cinema festivals and be shown at cinemas. The documentary is also set to be shown on RTP (Portuguese national television) in October 2024.
Name in the credits of the documentary "For you, Portugal, I swear!" + poster for the documentary [pick up from DIVERGENTE’s newsroom];
Hand-delivered (see above)
55 backers
Invest with 20€or more
Name in the credits, poster and tote bag
Name in the credits of the documentary “For you, Portugal, I swear!” + documentary poster + tote bag [pick up from DIVERGENTE’s newsroom];
Hand-delivered (see above)
58 backers
Invest with 50€or more
Name in the credits, poster, tote bag and photo
Name in the credits of the documentary “For you, Portugal, I swear!” + documentary poster + tote bag + 1 photo of your choice from the report [choose from the gallery below];
Postman/courier or hand-delivered Shipping included (to Portugal)
20 backers
Invest with 100€or more
Name in the credits, poster, tote bag, photo and invitation
Name in the credits of the documentary “For you, Portugal, I swear!” + documentary poster + DIVERGENTE tote bag + 1 photo of your choice from the report [choose from the gallery below] + a chance to view and discuss the film prior to the final editing process;
International shipping included.
Postman/courier or hand-delivered Shipping included (to Portugal)
15 backers
Sun, 01/09/2024 - 02:37
Fri, 21/04/2023 - 14:11
Payout completed
The raised funds have been transferred to the campaign owner
18/04/2023
Campaign ended
The campaign successfully raised the initial target
Tue, 18/04/2023 - 16:34
100% reached
WE DID IT! We met our initial target but the fundraising can continue
Sat, 25/03/2023 - 10:42
50% reached
We've just achieved half the target! The glass is now more full than empty ;)
Thu, 23/02/2023 - 08:30
We're now 20
We reached the first 20 backers. Let's keep up!
Mon, 20/02/2023 - 14:23
First five backers
We've gathered the first 5 backers. Hurray!
Campaign launched
17/02/2023
139 members of the PPL community support this campaign
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