13th IFF Panama Aims for Young Auds with Comedies, Thrillers, Animation

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To attract a younger demographic, the 13th Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) is offering a diverse mix of comedies, thrillers, animations, and genre films alongside documentaries, dramas, and art-house productions in its lineup.

As a devoted cinephile, I eagerly strive to ignite and captivate the younger generation’s interest in the enchanting world of cinema once more. Following in the footsteps of my esteemed predecessor, Pituka Ortega-Heilbron, who has been immersed in her own film projects, I am now steering the festival director ship at IFF Panama.

To make it even more appealing, the festival offers free outdoor screenings as usual. This year’s lineup includes highly-acclaimed animation films such as “Olivia & the Clouds,” which won awards, “Ainbo – Spirit of the Amazon” and the biopic “Hola, Frida!”.

1. “The animated documentary film ‘El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,’ by Felix “Trillo” Guardia of Panama, will have its world premiere at the festival. On the other hand, the romantic comedy ‘Samana Sunrise’ starring Luis Tosar is having its international premiere, following its debut in the Dominican Republic where it was filmed.”

2. “Felix ‘Trillo’ Guardia’s animated documentary film, titled ‘El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,’ will make its world premiere at the festival. Meanwhile, the romantic comedy ‘Samana Sunrise’ featuring Luis Tosar is getting its international premiere after its initial screening in the Dominican Republic where it was produced.”

3. “At the upcoming festival, Felix ‘Trillo’ Guardia’s animated documentary film, ‘El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,’ will have its world debut. In another development, Luis Tosar’s romantic comedy ‘Samana Sunrise’ is having its international premiere following its local debut in the Dominican Republic.”

4. “The animated docu-feature ‘El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,’ by Panamanian director Felix ‘Trillo’ Guardia, will be premiered at the festival for the first time worldwide. Simultaneously, the romantic comedy film ‘Samana Sunrise’ starring Luis Tosar is making its international debut after its initial screening in the Dominican Republic.”

5. “In the upcoming festival, Felix ‘Trillo’ Guardia’s animated documentary film, ‘El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,’ will be premiered globally for the first time. On a related note, the romantic comedy movie ‘Samana Sunrise’ starring Luis Tosar is making its international debut following its initial screening in the Dominican Republic.”

The “Dead Talents Society” from Taiwan, which garnered the Sitges Festival’s Audience Award, is one of the films in the genre category that are available for viewing.

This year’s Su Mirada post-production award winner, Ana Endara’s debut film “Beloved Tropic,” will kick off the festival on April 4. The day before is filled with industry activities at the Learning Vila, which includes workshops, discussions, and talks. Notably, opening night was a sellout, and more accreditations have been registered this year compared to last year. According to Quintero, notable figures such as “Beloved Tropic” actress Paulina Garcia, Isabella Santodomingo from Abner Benaim’s groundbreaking film “Chance,” which will be screened to commemorate its 15th anniversary, and “Espina” lead Aarón Diaz are among the distinguished personalities gracing this year’s festival.

On the festival’s industry day, there’s an exclusive discussion led by Michael Benedict, director of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, who delves into the process of submitting for Oscars, from qualifying to being nominated. This talk is highly recommended for anyone aiming to secure Oscar recognition, as it provides a crucial roadmap.

Jayro Bustamante, a three-time Academy Award nominee for Best International Feature from Guatemala, discusses his latest film “Rita” and shares insights about how cinema fosters cultural understanding and sparks social progress. During this dialogue, he delves into the ways his award-winning trilogy — “Ixcanul”(2015), “Temblores”(2019) and “La Llorona”(2019) — showcases film as a potent vehicle for social change and progress. By weaving compelling narratives, Bustamante addresses pressing matters such as indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ activism, systemic injustice, and historical remembrance. His stories, while resonating globally, maintain a deep connection to Guatemalan traditions.

A talk by Arí Maniel Cruz, who co-directed the short film “DtMF” with Puerto Rican rap sensation Bad Bunny, is highly awaited. There’s speculation that he might make a surprise appearance. During his talk, Cruz will discuss his creative perspective and the hurdles faced in portraying Puerto Rico’s social and cultural evolution, focusing on topics like identity, community, and change through an inventive storytelling approach. This discourse will be framed within the backdrop of Bad Bunny’s most recent album.

At the First Look segment of the festival’s industry, titled Primera Mirada, Cruz is showcasing an ongoing project called “Sana y Salva” (“Safe and Sound”). This work has been characterized by Cat Caballero, the Industry Coordinator, as a dramedy in the vein of Wes Anderson’s style that follows the life of a Haitian immigrant residing in Puerto Rico.

Directors David Baute from “Black Butterflies,” Guardia for “El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson,” Tomás Pichard of both “Olivia & the Clouds” and “El Brujo: Julio Zachrisson”, and animation director Fernando Toussaint will discuss their individual experiences and paths within the growing industry, revealing their personal stories.

This year, we’ve seen a significant increase in applications from islands in the Caribbean region, such as Jamaica and Martinique, which are submitting applications for the first time,” stated Caballero, indicating that they have collected 57 applications from various locations throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

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2025-04-01 19:48