The FÓLIO – Óbidos International Literary Festival served as the venue where four of the National Comic Book Award (BD) winners shared their perspectives on the importance of this art form. The award, presented by the Directorate-General for Books, Archives, and Libraries, this year for the first time, honored António Jorge Gonçalves with the Career Award. The Work of the Year Award went to Luís Moreira Gonçalves and Felipe Parcci for their work “Dormindo entre cadáveres,” while the Innovation Award recognized Ana Matilde Sousa, Ana Simões, André Nóvoa, Hugo Soares, and Diogo Jesus for their project “Rumo ao eclipse”.
António Jorge Gonçalves expressed his satisfaction with the institutional recognition, emphasizing that while art is not inherently competitive, an award provides visibility and validation for one's work. "It's not about saying one art is more important than another, but about saying it exists and deserves to be seen," he stated. The author also highlighted the significance of works like "Dita Dor," which explores his childhood during the dictatorship, as a means for historical and social reflection for future generations, warning against the constant temptation of totalitarianism.
Contrasting the notion that comics are not taken seriously, Luís Moreira, winner of the Work of the Year Award, recalled serious discussions about Mafalda's comic strips during his childhood and noted that the evolution of works has allowed comics to occupy new spaces, now being treated as literature. The awarded book, "Dormindo entre cadáveres," has been well-received in this context.
Ana Matilde Sousa, illustrator of "Rumo ao eclipse," a bilingual graphic narrative part of a 2019 science communication project, mentioned the frequent use of comics in scientific outreach. The work, expanded in 2023, has received international recognition and offers a role-playing experience where players aim to reach Príncipe Island to witness an eclipse. André Nóvoa, a designer of analog games, materialized this idea, reinforcing the growing perception of comics and games as artistic expressions capable of expanding narratives, a journey that this award helps to consolidate.
