The docuseries “Beyond the Brain”, broadcast on Portuguese television channel RTP1, has been recognised at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2026. The production’s trailer received the Silver Dolphin in the “Trailers and Teasers for Documentaries and Reports” category. Watch the award-winning trailer here .
Supported by the Bial Foundation, “Beyond the Brain” seeks to bridge science and spirituality through a scientific exploration of some of the most intriguing phenomena of human consciousness, including telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis, near-death experiences, mediumship, the recall of alleged past lives, meditation, and expanded states of consciousness.
Regarded as one of the most prestigious international competitions in the field of corporate audiovisual and documentary communication, the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards annually recognise outstanding productions worldwide. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury composed of Oscar and Emmy winners, as well as experts in communications, marketing, media, and the audiovisual industry.
The Silver Dolphin, announced on 24 September during the Awards Gala held at Annex Beach Cannes, was received on behalf of the Bial Foundation and the “Beyond the Brain” team by Paula Guedes, Secretary General of the Bial Foundation, journalist Mário Augusto, and video editor André Banza.
Science without taboos, with rigour
“The series was born from a desire to examine, with openness and rigour, some of the most challenging questions surrounding human consciousness and to showcase the work of researchers who have been studying them for decades. Seeing this project gain international recognition is both rewarding and encouraging for the continued support of scientific research in parapsychology and neuroscience, as well as for fostering dialogue between these two fields”, says Luís Portela, Chairman of the Bial Foundation.
Entirely grounded in scientific research, “Beyond the Brain” was filmed across several countries and features interviews with more than 50 researchers and experts in physics, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and parapsychology, affiliated with international institutions such as the University of Liège, the University of Virginia, and King’s College London.
“One of the great achievements of this series was its ability to address subjects that naturally raise questions and scepticism without abandoning the principles that should guide any scientific discussion: examining the evidence, confronting different perspectives, and acknowledging both what we know and what we do not yet know. Bringing together researchers from different disciplines and institutions made it possible to present science precisely as a process that is constantly evolving”, states Nuno Sousa, neuroscientist and scientific adviser to the series.
From scientific research to television
“Drawing on the books by Dr Luís Portela, which provided us with a solid scientific basis, we were faced with a particularly compelling challenge for television, one that had never before been approached in this way: taking complex topics, often regarded as marginal, and making them accessible without oversimplifying them”, explains Mário Augusto. “This recognition in Cannes demonstrates that it is possible to communicate science rigorously while also creating television that sparks curiosity and resonates with very diverse audiences, leaving viewers reflecting on the issues explored, including the most sceptical among them”, highlights the journalist and executive producer of the series.
Hosted by Luís Portela and Mário Augusto, “Beyond the Brain” was directed by Ricardo Freitas, with Mário Augusto as executive producer, Paula Campos as project coordinator, Pedro Sousa and Andreia Santos as line producers, and André Banza as editor. The series premiered worldwide on RTP1 on 12 May, and its 16 episodes were broadcast on Monday evenings. They are also available on RTP Play.
Judged across a record 63 categories, the broadest slate in the festival's history, 253 productions from 38 countries were shortlisted, with 182 receiving the coveted Dolphin Trophies.
Photo credits: OONIFY/Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards