"De Corpo e Alma", the new promotional film of the Historical Villages of Portugal, is the World's Best Tourism Film. Nominated for the largest competition of tourism films worldwide, the "World's Best Tourism Film Awards - CIFFT Circuit", the film, produced by Lobby Films and Advertising, and directed by Telmo Martins, won the "CIFFT Best World Tourism Film "People's Choice" Award 2021", having been the most voted production - with 8133 votes in 30 countries.

From 1 to 25 October, the public worldwide was invited to vote for their favourite tourism film in the online competition for the CIFFT Best World Tourism Film "People's Choice" Award 2021.

The film of the Historical Villages of Portugal won against strong competition: 40 videos from 16 countries competed in this 4th edition of the CIFFT "People's Choice" award, reaching almost 46,000 votes in 30 countries.

With a striking narrative and characters who made History, as the kings D. Dinis, D. João, and Pedro Alvares Cabral, who discovered Brazil and was born and raised in Belmonte, one of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal, the film "De Corpo e Alma" takes the viewer on an intense journey through the Historical Villages of Portugal, exploring the sight, hearing and heart. Built in granite and schist, the Historical Villages of Portugal keep stories of conquests and ancient traditions. Their identity is based not only on the architectural and natural heritage, but also on immaterial elements related to the historical and cultural heritage.

"The achievements in the life of the Historical Villages of Portugal are the perfect and imperfect past. And the clearest proof that the achievements continue is the award "World's Best Tourism Film - People's Choice". It is a way to do justice to our ancestors for the legacy, to thank the communities that live in the Historic Villages and to raise awareness of younger generations to make this identity endure. Through the seventh art, we can thus immortalize the stories and stories of 12 Historical Villages of Portugal - 1 destination that are 12, and we believe that the award for Best Tourism Film in the World - People's Choice will contribute to the strengthening of cultural and creative industries in the territory. Everyone is welcome! Everyone can live its history here", commented Dalila Dias, Executive Coordinator of the Historical Villages of Portugal, about the award.

Telmo Martins, of Lobby Films and Advertising, director of the film, commented that "winning a competition of this very high level, with worldwide recognition and compared to the Oscars of Tourism Films, makes me very happy and with a sense of accomplishment. This award also attests to the quality of the film produced, among many others of great quality. Inevitably, we must not forget that the purpose of the production of this film is to promote the incredible product "Historical Villages of Portugal", its identity, history, beauty and atmosphere. Are really 12 unique villages in the world, which reach further and allow a giant promotion with this valuable prize.

Once again, this award proves the attractiveness of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal, not only for tourism, but also for the universe of cultural and creative industries. Indeed, this is a structuring axis in the activation policy and stimulation of the Network in the socio-economic field and that is intended to see growth in the next decade (Strategy Historical Villages of Portugal 2030), with a view to diversification of the business fabric of the territory. A goal that starts from the existing skills and others that are being created through the scientific system installed in the region, with a specialized approach in this area.

The film "De Corpo e Alma" is an initiative supported by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and the European Regional Development Fund, through the Programme for Economic Enhancement of Endogenous Resources (PROVERE).