The Galactic Space Pandas of Planet 9 team, composed mainly of students and alumni from ESCS, secured second place in the 2026 edition of the 48 Hour Film Project Lisbon with the short film Quarenta e Sete Mil Moedas, one of the world's most renowned international short filmmaking competitions.

Of the team's 16 members, 12 have a connection to ESCS, representing different degree programmes and generations of the School. The team is led by ESCS alumni Andrew Owenson, who graduated in Audiovisual and Multimedia in 2018, and José Diogo Nunes and Mariana Roque, both of whom graduated in Audiovisual and Multimedia in 2016.

Among the current students are Rafael Narciso, who recently completed the second year of the Bachelor's degree in Audiovisual and Multimedia, and Marta Boal, a student in Advertising and Marketing. The team also includes several other ESCS students and alumni, reflecting the continuity of collaboration and the strong sense of community that characterises the School.

This was the team's sixth participation in the competition. Since making its debut in 2021, the team has steadily built an impressive track record at the festival:

2021 – Third Place, along with several nominations and awards;
2025 – Nominated for Best Film;
2026 – Second Place overall, accompanied by multiple nominations and awards.

Awards and Nominations in the 2026 Edition

In this year's edition, the team received a wide range of awards and nominations.

Awards

Best Screenplay;
Best Use of Character;
Audience Award (Group B);
Best Editing;
Second Place – Best Film.

Nominations

Best Costume Design;
Best Use of Prop;
Best Visual Effects;
Best Social Media;
Best Use of the Line;
Best Original Score;
Best Sound Editing;
Best Ensemble Performance;
Best Supporting Performance (Beatriz Gonçalves);
Best Lead Performance (Paulo Branco);
Best Director.

Over the past few years, the team's connection with ESCS has remained strong, with the School providing support at various stages of its journey. In the 2026 edition, ESCS contributed to the project by providing audio equipment, helping to make the production possible.

The Galactic Space Pandas of Planet 9 team includes the following ESCS students and alumni:

Mariana Roque (AM) – Director
Andrew Owenson (AM) – Screenwriter and Editor
José Diogo Nunes (AM) – Screenwriter and Actor
Margarida Peixoto (RPCE) – Producer, Production Designer and Social Media Manager
Rafael Outeiro (RPCE) – Assistant Producer
Beatriz Lopes (AM) – Production and Art Assistant
Maria Marangas (RPCE) – Production Designer
Marta Boal (PM) – Art Assistant
Maria Faria (AM) – Social Media Manager
Rafael Narciso (AM) – Sound
Gonçalo Vaz (AM) – Director of Photography
Gui Sousa (AM) – Director of Photography
Rita Soares (AM) – Still Photographer

ESCS congratulates all the members of the team on this achievement, which highlights the talent, creativity and high standard of work of its students and alumni, while further enhancing the School's reputation within the Portuguese audiovisual industry.

Photographs by Galactic Space Pandas of Planet 9