‘The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson’ Snags IFF Panama Audience Award as ‘Sugar Island’ Sells in North America (EXCLUSIVE)

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At the International Film Festival of Panama, Felix “Trillo” Guardia’s first feature documentary titled “The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson” (or “El Brujo”) took home the esteemed audience award. This victory was achieved over other notable competitors such as “Pepe,” which won at Berlinale, Mexico’s “Sujo,” and “Kill the Jockey,” a winner from Venice.

The movie, titled “Guardia,” was created by Tomás Cortés from Cine Animal and sponsored by Panama’s Ministry of Culture. It combines animation, historical footage, and interviews to follow Guardia’s personal odyssey, inspired by his early recollections of the intriguing artwork of the late Panamanian artist, Julio Zachrisson.

Or, more informally:

Tomás Cortés from Cine Animal made “Guardia” with support from Panama’s Ministry of Culture. This movie mixes animation, old footage, and interviews to tell Guardia’s story, which was sparked by his memories of Julio Zachrisson’s unique artwork when he was a kid.

During the festival celebration, it was announced that the North American rights for Johanné Gómez’s film “Sugar Island” had been sold to ArtMattan Prods., following negotiations by its representative, Patra Spanou. The acclaimed debut feature of Gómez, a blend of documentary and fiction, centers around Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager from a sugarcane worker shantytown, who is compelled to confront adulthood due to an unexpected pregnancy.

In appreciation for the accolade bestowed upon us, Guardia gratefully acknowledged IFF Panama and its attendees by saying: “Winning the Audience Award has been an aspiration fulfilled for our whole crew.

Looking over the faces in the throng, he affirmed what resonated deeply within him: pursuing one’s passion – even if it appears unconventional – leads to crafting something that resonates profoundly. In my view, this is the most valuable recognition a filmmaker, or any artist, could receive. He shared this sentiment with EbMaster, further stating: “As a Latin American and Panamanian, I am convinced our narratives – authentic, intense, and vital – merit attention and safeguarding. Art holds the power to construct connections and transcend time.

This honor is in tribute to our cherished friend, guide, and exceptional artist, Julio Zachrisson – ‘El Brujo’. May his work keep journeying, stirring emotions, and bridging connections, so that more people can experience the profound impact of this extraordinary individual.

On the final day, April 6th, the industry sector of the festival presented eagerly awaited monetary awards. These prizes were newly introduced for Panamanian projects by the National Film Institute of Panama (DICINE), under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

Or:

The industry part of the festival granted long-anticipated cash rewards on April 6th, which were fresh awards for Panamanian projects from DICINE (the National Film Institute of Panama) under the ministry of culture’s watchful eye.

Arianne Benedetti, the Deputy Minister of Culture, who’s leading innovative projects for local filmmaking, stepped onto the stage to award a $5,000 certificate to Martin Proaño. This recognition was given for his intriguing mystery-drama titled “Cabeza de ratón,” which had been showcased in the Primera Mirada (First Look) section.

In a recent event, Panama’s Xochil Vergara was awarded $5,000 for her compelling mother-daughter drama featured in the female-oriented section “Su Mirada.” Meanwhile, Mariel García Spooner received $3,000 for her film project, “Alma,” which is also part of the same section.

Benedetti stated that we are introducing numerous strategies, including a fresh law and a more powerful, self-reliant industry – primarily benefiting domestic Panamanian productions, but also extending to foreigners visiting Panama. Our aim is to foster success.

The jury from Primera Mirada, headed by Oscar-nominated director Gregory Nava (“El Norte”, “Selena”), picked “Nosotros” – the first feature film by Guatemalan Joaquin Ruano. This drama focuses on a tuk-tuk driver, discontented with his life, who leaves his family in the highlands to work in the city. In the city, he works as a security guard and encounters Nubia, an older transgender woman. Their unconventional relationship culminates in the driver’s demise, leaving Nubia with the challenging task of returning the body of her beloved to his deserted spouse and child.

I, Alejandro Alonso from Cuba, was honored with the secondary Primera Mirada prize for my debut feature film, “Bahia Honda.” This captivating tale revolves around Pitufo, a young Cuban dreaming of escaping the secluded bay where he spends his days breaking down ships amidst flames and metal-cutting. In pursuit of freedom, I found myself in the ship cemetery, where my aspirations gradually came to fruition.

Female filmmakers hailing from the Dominican Republic, who submitted the highest number of projects for the festival’s industry sectors, secured accolades in not one but two categories: Development and Post-Production, within the Su Mirada awards.

These were two documentaries: “Yubarta” by Nayibe Tavares-Abel in the development category, and “Girls Scarlet” by Paula Cury Melo, in the post-production stage.

The film “Yubarta,” praised by the Su Mirada Jury, which is headed by film industry strategist Renee Robinson for its depiction of connecting migration with the recurring quest for a brighter future and employing the evocative imagery of the migratory humpback whale to link ancestors to optimism, follows the tale of Tavares-Abel’s Palestinian great-grandfather who moved to the Dominican Republic. Tavares-Abel intends to utilize stop motion animation to narrate the story of her ancestor’s migration journey.

Paula Cury Melo’s work titled “Scarlet Girls” delves into the personal accounts of women in the Dominican Republic who have been compelled into motherhood against their will and secretly undergo abortions, as abortion in this country is illegal without any exceptions.

The 13th IFF Panama ran April 3-6.

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2025-04-07 13:52