A striking new feature-length documentary celebrating the beauty of natural stone received its UK premiere at this month’s Stone & Surfaces Show in London, including a personal introduction from its acclaimed Portuguese director, Federico Miranda.
Funded by Assimagra (Associação Portuguesa dos Industriais de Mármores, Granitos e Rochas Afins), the film, entitled Milestone, explores Portugal through its most enduring material: natural stone, told through granite, slate, limestone, and marble.
The 66-minute film, which was shown at the new Stone and Surfaces Cinema for film and photography, is soundtracked by traditional Portuguese folk group, Arrainos.
Traveling from prehistoric sites to contemporary laboratories and international architectural projects, the film connects ancestral craftsmanship with cutting-edge sustainability research. Blending documentary and carefully staged docudrama elements, Milestone delivers a cinematic, sensory experience that positions stone as both cultural heritage and future-facing material.
Federico Miranda commented: “This is a film for all ages, from eight to 80; I want the message of Milestone to be that natural stone needs to be noticed – it’s an important material that’s non-polluting, and which celebrates craftsmanship, heritage and legacy.”
Sam Patel, Stone & Surfaces Show director, added: “We were honoured to not only premiere Federico’s incredible film, but have the director himself attend in person and introduce his incredible work. It was a real highlight of the three-day show.”
