The Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) held a concise opening ceremony on April 4th, during which IFF Panama board president Pituka Ortega-Heilbron welcomed back documentary filmmaker Ana Endara as she presented her first fictional feature film titled "Beloved Tropic" ("Querido trópico") at the festival.
Endara stated: "‘Beloved Tropic’ has journeyed far, yet no screening will ever match this particular event, for it represents a return home, and home signifies Panama, and specifically, the Panama International Film Festival."
"It’s particularly remarkable being here alongside these two amazing women who form the heart of my creativity—[producer] Isabela Gálvez and [co-writer] Pilar Moreno. What makes it even more special is having the opportunity to work with such distinguished actresses right here, along with all those whose efforts collectively brought this movie into existence. Creating a film requires an extensive team effort, which happens to be what I cherish the most—the collaboration involved. This space is filled with individuals who played crucial roles in breathing life into our project,” she concluded.
Sharing the stage with Endara were her leading ladies: Chile’s Paulina García, portraying Gloria—a affluent lady grappling with early stages of dementia—and Jenny Navarrete, essaying the role of her caretaker. Also joining them was their ensemble including Juliette Roy, Syddia Ospina, and Marisol Salazar.
The festival director, Karla Quintero, highlighted an increase in accreditation figures. She expressed her delight saying, “It’s fantastic to see the event regaining traction and returning to pre-pandemic attendance levels gradually yet steadily.” She continued, emphasizing their dedication: “As usual, each element of this edition was crafted with great care and affection. Despite our limited size, passion for our work remains strong within us. You might have observed; every aspect has undergone meticulous consideration. There isn’t anything left to chance nor haphazardly done." Furthermore, she mentioned, “This year saw significantly extended planning periods dedicated specifically towards refining both the overall aesthetic and content selection across various events,” she stated.
The festival launch kicked off with a rigorous "industry day" on April 3rd, featuring numerous masterclasses, discussions, and panel sessions, along with a six-day director’s workshop called Tres Puertos, spearheaded by Erick Gonzalez from Australab. This event marked the inaugural such initiative in Panama.
The participants in the workshop featured Enrique Castro, known as "December," who presented his documentary "Just 'Cuz"; Kattia Gonzalez, whose work includes "Las Niñas" and the project "Hermosa no es como antes"; and Ana Elena Tejera, the recipient of last year’s IFF Panama Su Mirada prize for her docu-fiction piece "Another One of Those Men."
Gonzalez noted that this new wave highlights directors discovering their individual styles, producing work that is more radical and deeply personal.
Additionally, IFF Panama has introduced a new six-day producers workshop that began on April 4. Notably, acclaimed Colombian producer Diana Bustamante, known for her work on "Memory" and "Land and Shade," will be providing mentorship during this event.
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- The Berlinale winner 'Pepe,' the Sundance sensation 'Sujo,' and Panama's acclaimed 'Beloved Tropic' head this year's list of audience award contenders at the 13th Panama Film Festival.