Iluminados

Iluminados, stylized as Ilminados, is a 2024 Peruvian documentary film co-produced and directed by Ricardo Jhon. It follows the events that happened before, during, and after the 2023 [Liga 1 (Peru)|2023 Liga 1 final] between Universitario de Deportes and Alianza Lima, the two most emblematic and historical Peruvian clubs that faced for a national title after fourteen years.
The film was theatrically released nationwide on February 24, 2024. A sequel, Esta es la U, was released on December 12, 2024.

Cast

Jorge Fossati - manager
José Carvallo - captain / goalkeeper
Aldo Corzo - captain / right-back
Williams Riveros - central defender
Nelson Cabanillas - left-back
Matías Di Benedetto - central defender
Rodrigo Ureña - midfielder
Piero Quispe - midfielder
Martín Pérez Guedes - midfielder
Horacio Calcaterra - midfielder
Andy Polo - wingback
Edison Flores - forward
Alex Valera - forward
Manuel Barreto - sports manager
Jean Ferrari - administrator

Release

Iluminados was released via streaming on Ticketmaster on February 15, 2024. The next day, it had an avant premiere on February 16, 2024, then it was commercially released on February 24, 2024, in Peruvian theaters. On May 1, 2024, the film was released for free in Universitario's YouTube channel.

Controversy

On February 27, 2024, during a screening of the film in a cinema in San Juan de Miraflores, a fan lit a flare that activated the security protocols by the cinema staff. Due to this dangerous action, the film was withdrawn from the national cinema chains and the distribution plans for the film in provinces were cancelled.

Sequel

On November 13, 2024, after the two-time Universitario de Deportes championship in its Centennial year, a sequel titled Esta es la U was announced, and narrated all events that occurred during its one hundred years of foundation. It was released on December 12, 2024, in Peruvian theaters.