Cascais has earned international recognition for a tourism film with an unusual twist: a story in which time appears to run backwards. Entitled Cascais – Time Is on Your Side, the promotional production won second prize in the Tourism Innovation category at the 19th ART&TUR International Tourism Film Festival, held in Ovar, Portugal, from 27 to 30 October 2026.
The award was presented on 30 October at the Ovar Arts Centre, during the closing ceremony of a festival that attracted 247 films from 45 countries. But beyond the award itself, it is the film’s imaginative approach to showcasing Cascais that makes it worth watching.
A different way to discover Cascais
Rather than simply presenting a collection of beaches, monuments and picturesque landscapes, Cascais – Time Is on Your Side takes a more cinematic approach. Drawing inspiration from the storytelling concept behind The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it follows a character who appears to grow younger as his experience of Cascais unfolds.
Directed by António Aleixo, the film brings together the different sides of this Atlantic coastal destination, from its beaches and outdoor activities to its food, atmosphere and relaxed way of life.
The underlying message is simple: in Cascais, time is something to enjoy rather than chase. The destination is presented not merely as a place to visit, but as somewhere to slow down, reconnect and experience life at a different pace.
International recognition for a creative tourism campaign
The second-place award recognises an approach to destination marketing that places storytelling and emotion ahead of conventional sightseeing imagery.
For Bernardo Corrêa de Barros, president of Turismo de Cascais, the distinction reflects the destination’s efforts to communicate what makes it special: its quality of life, variety of experiences and the freedom for visitors to explore at their own pace.
First presented in June 2026, including at the IMEX tourism industry event in Frankfurt, the film builds on Cascais’s previous promotional campaigns. Director António Aleixo was also behind Remote Workers, another film created to showcase the destination.
The latest award highlights a growing emphasis on creative storytelling in tourism promotion. And for anyone curious about Cascais, the film offers a short, visually engaging introduction to the coastal town’s distinctive atmosphere.
