The Lisbon Motorcycle Film Fest (LxMFF) is an international cultural event for those passionate about bikes and cinema.
Inspired by the New York Motorcycle Film Festival, a group of friends who shared a passion for the arts and motorcycles decided to introduce a similar concept in Portugal. The LxMFF concept was created in 2015 and took shape in 2016, becoming the first festival of its kind in Europe.
This film festival aims at bringing together all those who are inspired by, produce, direct, act in and watch films dedicated to motorcycles. Three days dedicated entirely to the diversity of motorcycling, with dozens of films from far and wide, including documentaries, fiction and short films that reveal what goes on behind the scenes of motorised sports and take us on adventures around the world.
Challenge
We faced several challenges when we were invited to partner with the festival.
From short deadlines for the translation and subtitling of the nearly 20 films that were going to be shown, to the countries producing the films, such as Germany, Italy, Japan, South America and Australia.
Each with very different and specific approaches to the motorcycle universe of each country. As a result, the terminology used was very specific, with constant technical references related to both mechanical components and to accessories, materials and processes. Content also contained a myriad of specific jargon that had to be properly conveyed within the space and timing constraints typical of subtitling.
Last, but by no means least, the fact that we were the first company entrusted with translating and subtitling all films for the festival to attract as many viewers as possible.
Solution
A team was formed with several native translators specialising in subtitling and with long-established knowledge of the field, most of which are also avid motorcyclists, including a native reviser responsible for checking the technical content and quality control of the subtitles.
As the festival takes place in an auditorium, subtitles had to be hardcoded into the films using specific software capable of creating synchronised subtitles which were then added to the films in a studio, so that the films could be shown.
Result
The careful selection of linguists familiar with such a specialised field of knowledge, combined with the technical and specific subtitling component allowed us to translate and subtitle all films within the stipulated deadlines.
Our commitment to providing this service helped the organisation to emphasise the importance of subtitling and the added value it brings during the festival.
Attendance at the second edition of the festival nearly doubled compared to the inaugural event and we received very positive feedback during the three days the festival was held, stressing the importance and success of our participation in the Lisbon Motorcycle Film Fest.
Customer testimonial
Our contribution helped increase the number of festival attendees, which saw a 78% increase in ticket sales, by making the various films shown at the three-day festival more accessible to everyone.
The importance of our work for the festival was recognised by the hosts of the event, who stated:
“itechwords has made an invaluable contribution to the Lisbon Motorcycle Film Fest. We were unable to translate and subtitle all the films shown in the first edition of the LxMFF. We addressed this shortcoming in the second edition, adding value and improving the quality of our event. It’s worth noting that the more than 20 films subtitled by itechwords contained a significant amount of technical language and that the biking world has its own lexicon, which itechwords handled masterfully. The synergy we have with itechwords is undoubtedly a valuable asset, one which we hope to nurture in the future editions of the Lisbon Motorcycle Film Fest.”
Host of the Lisbon Motorcycle Film Fest