23rd Lima Film Festival


The 23rd Lima Film Festival, organized by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, took place from 9 to 17 August 2019 in Lima, Peru. The awards were announced on 17 August 2019, with Bacurau winning the Trophy Spondylus.

Background

In July 2019, the Lima Film Festival officially announced its 23rd edition, under the motto "Escape to the Festival" The festival took place from Friday, August 9 to Saturday, August 17, 2019. Organized by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, through its Cultural Center, and presented in collaboration with the BBVA Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of Peru, the Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú, and El Comercio, tickets for the event went on sale from August 2, 2019, at the festival's official venues.
The festival welcomed back Ambulante for another year, a collective founded by Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Pablo Cruz, and Elena Fortes, dedicated to promoting documentary films to new audiences. In this edition, seven documentaries from different countries were showcased. The film documentary The Journey of Javier Heraud by Javier Corcuera served as the opening film, which took place at the Gran Teatro Nacional.
The event paid tribute to the careers of three individuals: French filmmaker Claire Denis, Bolivian documentarian Jorge Sanjinés, and the production group Grupo Ukamau on their 25th anniversary. Marianne Eyde and Mikael Wiström were the directors who received recognition for their careers. Additionally, Mexican actor Gael García Bernal visited the festival to present Chicuarotes, his second film as a director, and also conducted an open masterclass for the general public on Sunday, August 11.

Juries

In Competition

Fiction

  • Laura Imperiale, Mexican producer - Jury President
  • Beatriz Seigner, Brazilian filmmaker
  • Estrella Araiza, Mexican cultural manager
  • Marcelo Martinessi, Paraguayan filmmaker
  • Miguel Ángel Moulet, Peruvian filmmaker

Documentary

  • Daniela Alatorre, Mexican producer - Jury President
  • Agustina Comedi, Argentine filmmaker
  • Fabiola Sialer, Peruvian editor

International Critics

  • Gisella Barthé - Jury President
  • Marcela Gamberini
  • Claudio Sánchez

Official Selection

The lineup of titles selected for the official selection include:

In Competition

Fiction

English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Florianópolis DreamSueño FlorianópolisAna Katz
A Family SubmergedFamilia sumergidaMaría Alché
BacurauBacurauKleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles
A vida invisívelKarim Aïnouz
Sick, Sick, SickSem seu sangueAlice Furtado
SócratesSócratesAlexandre MorattoBrazil
EnigmaEnigmaIgnacio JuricicChile
MonosMonosAlejandro Landes
LitiganteLitiganteFranco Lolli
Land of AshesCeniza negraSofía Quirós Ubeda
Our MothersNuestras madresCésar Díaz
JoséJoséLi Cheng
La camaristaLila Avilés
Las niñas bienAlejandra Márquez AbellaMexico
Song Without a NameCanción sin nombreMelina León
The ClashLa broncaDaniel Vega & Diego VegaPeru
Miriam LiesMiriam mienteNatalia Cabral & Oriol Estrada
Los tiburonesLucía Garibaldi

Documentary

English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Ausencia de míAusencia de míMelina Terribili
Las facultadesEloísa SolaasArgentina
Summer DaysDías de temporadaPablo StiglianiArgentina
Let It BurnDiz a ela que me viu chorar Maíra BühlerBrazil
LemebelLemebelJoanna Reposi Garibaldi
Los sueños del castilloLos sueños del castilloRené Ballesteros
La pazLa pazTomás Pinzón LucenaColombia
A Wild StreamUna corriente salvajeNuria IbañezMexico
O amor é únicoO amor é únicoMarina Meijer
By the Name of TaniaBy the Name of TaniaMary Jiménez & Bénédicte Liénard
La revolución y la tierraGonzalo Benavente SeccoPeru

Made in Peru

Space dedicated to showcasing Peruvian films in their absolute premiere. Both this section and the 'Irresistible' section competed for the Audience Award.
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
In the Middle of the LabyrinthEn medio del laberintoSalomón PérezPeru
La canteraLa canteraMiguel Barreda DelgadoPeru
MapachoMapachoCarlos Marín TelloPeru
Hugo Blanco, Deep RiverHugo Blanco, río profundoMalena Martínez CabreraPeru
Mi Barrios Altos QueridoMi Barrios Altos QueridoJimmy ValdiviesoPeru
MáximaMáximaClaudia Sparrow
YutupisYutupisLuis Pizarro Pérez

Irresistible

Latin American films for all tastes that you won't want to miss. Both this section and the 'Made in Peru' section competed for the Audience Award.
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
RojoRojoBenjamín Naishtat
AireAireArturo Castro GodoyArgentina
Método LivingstonMétodo LivingstonSofía MoraArgentina
Divine LoveDivino amorGabriel Mascaro
DomingoDomingoClara Linhart & Fellipe Barbosa
La venganza de JairoLa venganza de JairoSimón Hernández
El despertar de las hormigasAntonella Sudasassi
LeonaLeona Isaac CheremMexico
This Is Not BerlinEsto no es BerlínHari SamaMexico
Midnight FamilyFamilia de medianocheLuke Lorentzen
Long DistanceLarga distanciaFranco FinocchiaroPeru

Samples

Searches

Films in which the author's freedom of exploration triumphs over the use of more conventional narratives. A list of films selected for the 'Searches' lineup is as follows:
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Brief Story from the Green PlanetBreve historia del planeta verdeSantiago Loza
SilviaSilviaMaría Silvia EsteveArgentina
Soft Rains Will ComeVendrán lluvias suavesIván FundArgentina
LapüLapüCésar Alejandro Jaimes & Juan Pablo PolancoColombia
Vida a bordoVida a bordoEmiliano Mazza De LucaUruguay

2019 Acclaimed

The most highly anticipated auteur cinema of the past year worldwide: Cannes, Berlin, San Sebastián. A list of films selected for the '2019 Acclaimed' lineup is as follows:
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Young AhmedLe jeune AhmedJean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
The Wild Goose Lake南方车站的聚会Diao Yinan
El reinoRodrigo Sorogoyen
Once Upon a Time in HollywoodOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodQuentin TarantinoUnited States
By the Grace of GodGrâce à DieuFrançois OzonFrance
Varda by AgnèsVarda par AgnèsAgnès VardaFrance
Joan of ArcJeanneBruno DumontFrance
It Must Be HeavenIt Must Be HeavenElia Suleiman
Oh Mercy!Roubaix, une lumièreArnaud DesplechinFrance
BeanpoleДылдаKantemir Balagov

Pride and Prejudice

Stories of diversity and gender-based violence. A list of films selected for the 'Pride and Prejudice' lineup is as follows:
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Let It Be LawQue sea leyJuan SolanasArgentina
GretaGretaArmando PraçaBrazil
A Thousand WomenAs mil mulheresRita ToledoBrazil
Cachada: The OpportunityCachadaMarlén ViñayoEl Salvador
Niña solaNiña solaJavier ÁvilaMexico
One Taxi RideUn viaje en taxiMak CK

Galas

Works starring or created by artists with a great trajectory. A list of films selected for the 'Galas' lineup is as follows:
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
Men of Hard SkinHombres de piel duraJosé Celestino CampusanoArgentina
El Pepe: A Supreme LifeEl Pepe, una vida supremaEmir Kusturica
JoelJoelCarlos SorínArgentina
Introduzione all'oscuroIntroduzione all'oscuroGastón Solnicki
Mario y los perrosMario y los perrosChema de la PeñaSpain
¡He matado a mi marido!¡He matado a mi marido!Francisco Lupini BasagoitiUnited States
Santiago, ItaliaSantiago, ItaliaNanni Moretti
ChicuarotesChicuarotesGael García BernalMexico
BuddyBuddyHeddy Honigmann
Fallen from HeavenCaídos del cieloFrancisco LombardiPeru
Defiant SoulsInsumisasFernando Pérez & Laura Cazador
Madame CinémaMadame CinémaJonathan ReverónVenezuela

Around the World in 8 Days

A tour of the international billboard, prioritizing those films that will soon be released in Lima. A list of films selected for the 'Around the World in 8 Days' lineup is as follows:
English TitleOriginal TitleDirectorProduction Countrie
DelfínDelfínGaspar ScheuerArgentina
The NightshifterMorto Não FalaDennison RamalhoBrazil
The GuiltyDen skyldigeGustav MöllerDenmark
Teen SpiritTeen SpiritMax MinghellaUnited States
Remi, Nobody's BoyRémi sans familleAntoine BlossierFrance
Rolling to YouTout le monde deboutFranck DuboscFrance
The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain KingAskeladden - I Dovregubbens HallMikkel Brænne SandemoseNorway
YesterdayYesterdayDanny Boyle
Blinded by the LightBlinded by the LightGurinder ChadhaUnited Kingdom
King of ThievesKing of ThievesJames MarshUnited Kingdom

Awards

In Competition

Fiction

  • Trophy Spondylus: Bacurau by Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles
  • Special Jury Prize: Song Without a Name by Melina León
  • Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles for Bacurau
  • Best Actress: Ilse Salas for The Good Girls
  • * Honorable Mention: Pamela Mendoza for Song Without a Name
  • Best Actor: Rodrigo Palacios for La bronca
  • Best Screenplay: María Alché for A Family Submerged
  • Best Cinematography: Helene Louvart for The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão
  • Best Debut: The Chambermaid by Lila Avilés
  • * Special Mention: The Sharks by Lucía Garibaldi

Documentary

  • Trophy Spondylus: La paz by Tomás Pinzón Lucena
  • * Special Mention: Lemebel by Joanna Reposi Garibaldi

International Critics

  • International Critics' Jury Award for Best Film: Bacurau by Kleber Mendonça Filho & Juliano Dornelles
  • * First Special Mention: The Chambermaid by Lila Avilés
  • * Second Special Mention: A Family Submerged by María Alché

Audience

  • Audience Award for International Films: The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão by Karim Aïnouz
  • Audience Award for National Films: Máxima by Claudia Sparrow

Other Awards

  • Ministry of Culture Jury Award for Best Peruvian Film: Song Without a Name by Melina León
  • * First Honorable Mention: The Revolution and the Land by Gonzalo Benavente Secco
  • * Second Honorable Mention: La cantera by Miguel Barreda Delgado
  • * Third Honorable Mention: La bronca by Daniel & Diego Vega
  • National Institute of Consumer Defense and Intellectual Property Award - INDECOPI for Best Screenplay of a Peruvian Film participating in the competition sections of Fiction, Documentary, Made in Peru, and Irresistible: Song Without a Name by Melina León
  • APC Signis Peru - Monseñor Luciano Metzinger Communicators Association Award: The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão by Karim Aïnouz
  • Peruvian Association of Film Press - APRECI Award for Best Film in Competition: La bronca by Daniel & Diego Vega
  • * Honorable Mention: The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão by Karim Aïnouz