‘Beloved Tropic,’ Led by ‘Gloria’ Star Paulina Garcia, Opens IFF Panama

by

As a movie lover, I was thrilled to witness the commencement of the Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) on April 4th. During this event, Pituka Ortega-Heilbron, the festival’s board president, announced the return of esteemed documentary filmmaker Ana Endara to the festival with her first foray into fiction films, titled “Beloved Tropic” (“Querido trópico”).

Endara expressed, “We’ve taken ‘Beloved Tropic’ on a journey, but no screening will feel quite as unique as this one. That’s because it’s a return to our roots, and for us, home is Panama, and home is the Panama International Film Festival.

It’s even more meaningful as I’m surrounded by two remarkable women, Isabela Gálvez and Pilar Moreno, who form the heart of my creative team as [producer] and [co-writer]. What makes it extra special is being with the talented actresses I had the privilege to work alongside. Additionally, it’s significant because so many individuals contributed to this film’s creation. That’s what I find most rewarding about making a movie—the collaboration. In this very room, there are numerous people who played a part in bringing this film to fruition.

On stage alongside Endara were Paulina García, a Chilean actress known for her role in “Gloria” as a wealthy woman struggling with early dementia, along with Jenny Navarrete, who portrays her caregiver. Accompanying them were their fellow cast members Juliette Roy, Syddia Ospina and Marisol Salazar.

Or, more concisely:

Endara’s on-stage companions included Paulina García (“Gloria”), playing a wealthy woman with early dementia; Jenny Navarrete, her caregiver; and their supporting actors Juliette Roy, Syddia Ospina and Marisol Salazar.

Festival director Karla Quintero remarked that accreditation figures had increased, stating, “It’s delightful to observe the festival gradually returning to pre-pandemic numbers. I simply wanted to share that this year’s event has been crafted with immense affection, as is our tradition. Though we are a compact team, we are deeply passionate about our work. Each element – I believe you’ve noticed – has been painstakingly considered. Nothing is left to chance or improvisation. This year, we dedicated significantly more time to the design and planning of all festival events.

The festival’s commencement took place after an action-packed “professional day” on April 3rd, which included master classes, discussions, and panel sessions, as well as a six-day workshop for directors called Tres Puertos, spearheaded by Erick Gonzalez, founder-director of Australab – a unique first in Panama.

Attendees at the workshop were Enrique Castro, known as “December”, along with his documentary titled “Just ‘Cuz”; Kattia Gonzalez, recognized for her work “Las Niñas” and her project “Hermosa no es como antes”; and Ana Elena Tejera, who won the IFF Panama Su Mirada award last year, presenting her docu-fiction hybrid entitled “Una mas de esos hombres.”

Or, in a more conversational style:

The participants for the workshop were Enrique Castro, better known as December, with his documentary “Just ‘Cuz”; Kattia Gonzalez, famous for her projects like “Las Niñas” and “Hermosa no es como antes”; and Ana Elena Tejera, who took home the IFF Panama Su Mirada award last year with her docu-fiction hybrid “Una mas de esos hombres.

Gonzalez noted that the latest crop of films showcases directors discovering their unique styles, as evidenced by pieces that are bolder and more intimate in nature.

For the first time at IFF Panama, there’s a six-day film producers workshop that commenced on April 4. This workshop features renowned Colombian producer Diana Bustamante (“Memory,” “Land and Shade”), who is also serving as a mentor.

Read More

2025-04-05 14:46