1-2 Special Acquires North American Rights for Simón Mesa Soto’s Cannes Award-Winner ‘A Poet’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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1-2 Company ‘Special’ gains rights across North America for Simon Mesa Soto’s grimly humorous film “A Poet.” This production debuted in Un Certain Regard section at Cannes Film Festival and secured the jury award. Global distribution rights are managed by Luxbox.

1-2 Special will release the film in theaters with more details to be announced soon.

The movie focuses on Oscar Restrepo, a once aspiring writer whose fixation with poetry has yielded no recognition. Now older and unpredictable, he embodies the stereotype of the reclusive poet. But when he encounters Yurlady, a young girl from modest origins, he sees an opportunity to nurture budding talent. However, as events unfold, he realizes that introducing her to the world of poets might not be beneficial for her after all.

The film revolves around Oscar Restrepo, a failed writer who’s obsessed with poetry and has gained no acclaim. With age and eccentricity, he fits the mold of the solitary poet. However, upon encountering Yurlady, a young girl from humble beginnings, he sees potential to mentor her talent. Yet, he soon learns that immersing her in the poetry world might not be the best choice.

In the assessment, EbMaster found the movie to be an “amusingly nonsensical fairy tale” that was both entertaining and touching… creating a one-of-a-kind filmgoing adventure that surpassed expectations for Soto’s work.

Or simply:

EbMaster deemed the film as a “laugh-out-loud absurd parable” that combined humor and emotion, offering a distinctive cinematic journey that outdid Soto’s previous works.

A Poet”
Main Cast: Ubeimar Rios, Rebeca Andrade, Guillermo Cardona, Allison Correa, Margarita Soto, Humberto Restrepo
Location of Filming: Medellín
Notable Feature: The film features a predominantly non-professional cast.
Cinematography: Juan Sarmiento handles the photography, using 16mm film.
Producers: The film was produced by Margarita Soto, Juan Sarmiento G., and Manuel Ruiz Montealegre.
Co-Producers: Katharina Bergfeld, David Herdies, Michael Krotkiewski, Heino Deckert, and Kristina Börjeson contribute as co-producers.

Soto’s second work is ‘A Poet.’ His short film, titled ‘Leidi,’ earned the Palme d’Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Preceding ‘A Poet,’ his debut feature film, ‘Amparo,’ made its premiere at the Cannes Critics’ Week in 2021. Here, it received the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for actress Sandra Melissa Torres and seven awards at the Colombian Film Academy’s 2022 Macondo Awards, including best director and best film.

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2025-06-05 17:16