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In a bid to grab the attention of younger audiences, the 13th Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) has included a mélange of comedies, thrillers, animation and genre pics amid the docs, dramas and arthouse fare in its program.
“We aim to engage and inspire younger generations to return to the cinema,” said Karla Quintero, who took over festival director duties last year from IFF Panama board president Pituka Ortega-Heilbron who has been focusing on her film projects.
To captivate them even more, outdoor screenings are free as always. The festival has a number of lauded animation pics this year, led by award-winning “Olivia & the Clouds,” “Ainbo – Spirit of the Amazon” and biopic “Hola, Frida!”
“El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson” by Panama’s Felix “Trillo” Guardia is an animated docu-feature world premiering at the fest while Luis Tosar rom-com “Samana Sunrise” is having its international premiere following its debut in the Dominican Republic where it was shot.
Taiwan’s “Dead Talents Society,” winner of the Sitges Festival Audience Award, is among the genre pics on offer.
Last year’s winner of the Su Mirada post-production award, Ana Endara’s debut feature “Beloved Tropic,” opens the festival on April 4, preceded the day before with a full slate of industry activities at the Learning Vila, replete with workshops, panels and talks. “Opening night was sold out and we have registered more accreditations this year than last year,” observed Quintero who listed “Beloved Tropic” star Paulina Garcia, Isabella Santodomingo, the lead of Abner Benaim’s game-changing “Chance,” which will be screened to honor its 15th anniversary, and “Espina” lead Aarón Diaz among the luminaries attending the fest.
Among the highlights on the festival’s industry day is an invitation-only talk by Michael Benedict, director of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences who expands on the Oscar submission process, from eligibility to nomination. This session is touted as a vital blueprint for anyone aspiring to achieve Oscar recognition.
Guatemala’s Jayro Bustamante, a three-time Oscar contender for Best International Feature, presents his latest film “Rita” and holds a talk on how cinema bridges cultures and drives social change. In this conversation, he explores how his acclaimed trilogy — “Ixcanul”(2015), “Temblores”(2019) and “La Llorona”(2019) — demonstrates the power of film as a tool for social justice and transformation. Through evocative storytelling, Bustamante tackles critical issues like indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, systemic oppression and historical memory, creating narratives with global resonance while staying rooted in Guatemalan culture.
Much anticipated is a talk by Arí Maniel Cruz, who co-directed the short film “DtMF” with Puerto Rican rap superstar Bad Bunny, who some are hoping will make a surprise appearance. Cruz will share his artistic vision and the challenges of depicting the island’s social and cultural transformation, exploring themes of identity, community and change through an innovative visual narrative, all set within the context of Bad Bunny’s latest album.
Cruz is also presenting a work in progress at the festival industry’s First Look section, Primera Mirada, “Sana y Salva” (“Safe and Sound”), described by Industry Coordinator Cat Caballero as a Wes Anderson-style dramedy about a Haitian immigrant in Puerto Rico.
Directors David Baute of “Black Butterflies,” Guardia of “El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,” Tomás Pichard of “Olivia & the Clouds and “El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson” animation director Fernando Toussaint will share their personal stories and journeys within this burgeoning sector.
“We have certainly noticed more applications from the Caribbean countries this year, including Jamaica and Martinique for the first time,” said Caballero, who said they received 57 applications from across Central America and the Caribbean.
