MONSTRA joins Cinemateca Portuguesa — Museu do Cinema in celebrating a decade of COLA – Audiovisual Collective’s work in animation. This exhibition highlights the studio’s contributions to cinema, from the feature film ‘O Natal do Bruno Aleixo’ to numerous short films, including the 2023 Academy Award-nominated ‘Ice Merchants’.
Founded in 2015, COLA is an award-winning animation cooperative that began as an informal collective of artists dedicated to developing and promoting animation in Portugal. Initially focused on training programs and music videos, COLA soon expanded its portfolio to include short films and commercial projects.
Despite its unconventional structure, COLA quickly gained international recognition, making a remarkable impact on the animation industry while contributing to the long-standing legacy of Portuguese cinema. The studio made history as the first Portuguese production company to receive an Academy Award nomination, thanks to João Gonzalez’s ‘Ice Merchants’— a milestone that cemented the cooperative’s ambitious, hands-on approach.
The exhibition features materials from various COLA projects, including stop-motion puppets, film stills, behind-the-scenes images, and a compilation of trailers and making-of videos. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view works created by students who participated in COLA’s internship programs from 2022 to 2024, as well as exclusive previews of films currently in production.
The exhibition runs from February 21 to May 3, 2025, Monday to Saturday, from 2 PM to 7:30 PM, at the Cinemateca Portuguesa — Museu do Cinema. Admission is free.
COLA – Audiovisual Collective is an international animation cooperative comprising of COLA Animation and COLA Sets and FX. Its team includes creatives, artists, and technical professionals from around the world, such as Ala Nunu, António Selas, Bruno Caetano, Cristina Pîrvu, Débora Gil da Costa, João Alves, João Gonzalez, João Rapaz, Sophie Colfer, Susana Miguel António, and Vier.