Independent Awards

CineAr
CineAr Award for Best Argentine Short Film
Quedate quieto o te amo by Luis Federico
Jury statement:
“The film serves as a powerful representation of intersectionality through its boldly making visible moments in the life of a young person living on the margins of society, who is also a thief, dark-skinned and a homosexual. The film maintains a raw aesthetic, while still being full of sensitivity, located in landscapes that are representative of the working-class Buenos Aires suburbs. It is also a disruptive and poetic piece in its approach to love and desire.”


Ministry of Women, Gender Policies and Diversity of the Province of Buenos Aires
Best Argentine female director whose feature film stands out for gender perspective in the Argentine, Latin American and International Competitions.
The Eva Landeck Award to María Zanetti for Alemania
Jury statement:
“We chose Alemania - María Zanetti's debut film - for sensitively portraying mental health in adolescence: the awakenings, uncertainties and ups and downs typical of this crucial stage of development and its unavoidable impact on family dynamics. We value the configuration of the aesthetic, cultural and material universe of the late 90s in the construction of the story that runs through the plot, subtly hinting at that context of economic and social crisis in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Furthermore, the way in which intergenerational ties between women are represented is moving. The bond between sisters, the mother-daughter relationship, relationships with the grandmother, friends and so on, who share empathy, fears, memories, desires, the search for autonomy and emotional inheritances. The treatment, the dialogues and the scenes are narrated with emotion, sustaining interest in the plot. Alemania is a necessary film. It embodies themes that, beyond being contextualized in the late 90s, have an unavoidable relevance in post-pandemic times, because it brings adolescence and mental health from a gender perspective to the foreground.”

First Honorable Mention: Paula Hernández for El viento que arrasa
Jury statement:
“The delicacy with which the adaptation of Selva Almada's novel is narrated in audiovisual language, due to the quality of the photography and the immensity of the landscapes and the way in which the metamorphoses and desires for freedom of its characters are subtly portrayed.”

Second Honorable Mention: Anahí Berneri for Elena sabe
Jury statement:
“Through a dense, complex and uncomfortable atmosphere, it represents how difficult the mother-daughter bond can become, how overwhelming care work sometimes becomes, and the mandates that women carry: unwanted motherhood, lack of autonomy in making decisions about their lives and bodies. Filmed in the province of Buenos Aires (Mar del Plata, Hurlingham, Lanus), it reveals the indifference and mistreatment that is reproduced within the medical system, and by the police and the judiciary. We especially highlight the performance of Mercedes Moran, playing a character who is vulnerable and fragile due to her physical condition, but who transmits an inexhaustible fortitude and stubbornness.”

Third Honorable Mention: Laura Basombrío for Las almas
Jury statement:
“We recognize the gender and intersectional perspectives that give voice to an indigenous woman who tells her story. The cinematography records the beauty of the northern landscapes with plays of lights that build dreamlike images while listening to the protagonist's internal monologue about memory, community life, work, motherhood, love, violence, life and death."

Jury: Estela Díaz (Minister of Women, Gender Policies and Diversity of the Province of Buenos Aires), Victoria Belloni Onetto (Subsecretary of Cultural Policies of the Province of Buenos Aires), Justine Burgos (Gafas Violetas Program of the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts)


RECAM - Reunión Especializada de Autoridades Cinematográficas y Audiovisuales del MERCOSUR (Specialized Meeting of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Authorities of MERCOSUR)
RECAM Award for the Best Short Film in the Latin American, Argentine and Altered States Competitions
Un grano de arroz de una casa donde no haya muerto nadie by Agustina Muñoz
Jury statement:
“For the excellent handling of an uncomfortable and delicate topic that we all go through, the closeness to the death of a family member. The performances that generate empathy and the camera direction through stand out, allowing the viewer to observe without invading. The work invites us to think about the right to choose how to die, how to respect decisions and how to deal with or escape the commercial plots that surround death. The film can serve as a starting point for thinking about how to preserve death, as well as how to care for relationships and life.”

Jury: Specialists from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay


FNA - National Fund for the Arts
Argentine Short Films Competition
Especies de compañía by Juan Renau
Jury statement:
“For its narrative sensitivity, for its art in letting the story develop on its own, for the revelation of its plot and the style in the journey of the anecdote. Because the film has its own voice.”

Jury: Jorge Maestro


AADA - Argentine Association of Art Directors
AADA Award for Best Feature Film Art Direction in the International Competition
Fernanda Chali and team for Elena sabe by Anahí Berneri
Jury statement:
“It is our goal to make the work of the Art Director visible, both in high- and low-budget films, since their work not only consists of the construction of sets, but also actively participates in the aesthetic decisions that they make together with the Director, Producer and Director of Photography, contributing their understanding of the script, the framing, in the decision of the locations and their intervention, in everything related to the image. And their contribution to providing a film project with an artistic language that identifies it. On this occasion, AADA is pleased to award the Best Art Direction Award to Fernanda Chali and team, for her work on Elena sabe by Anahí Berneri. We consider that her work adequately accompanies the climate of oppression and decadence, integrating with the characters.”

Jury: Mariana Sourrouille, Sebastián Serra, Magdalena Peralta Antivero


ADF - Autores de Fotografía Cinematográfica Argentina (Authors of Argentine Cinematographic Photography)
Best Direction of Photography in the International Competition
Marcos Rostagno for Las almas by Laura Basombrío
Jury statement:
“In Las almas, the sublime landscapes of the night hide in their shadows the secrets of a life. Textures, mist, candles and soot build a poetic, fantastic world of mythology and ghosts, in which photography builds a space that is not only dreamlike, but also the space of memory. The story takes on a depth and narrative darkness that is accompanied by the photography in an organic, sensitive, patient, and contemplative way, as well as with very good ideas.”

Jury: Connie Martin, Franco Cerana, Nicolás Miranda


ADN - Argentine Association of Directors and Producers of Independent Documentary Cinema
ADN “Coco Blaustein” Award to the Best Argentine Documentary in All Competitions
Partió de mí un barco llevándome by Cecilia Kang
Jury statement:
“The jurors unanimously agree that this film allows us to get to know the Korean community in Argentina as well as travel and soak up their customs, and challenges us when it exposes the gender violence that is suffered. It excites us with the reunion of siblings, and raises awareness about the horror of sexual slavery in Korea when it was invaded by Japan. The subtlety, the delicacy in her story and the loving treatment of her characters stand out."

Jury: Juan Pablo Di Bitonto, Silvina Hermosa, Fito Pochat


SIGNIS - World Catholic Association for Communication
SIGNIS Award for the Best Film of the International Competition
Partió de mí un barco llevándome by Cecilia Kang
Jury statement:
“For presenting with originality and sensitivity a current look at the challenges of intercultural dialogue and migration, together with a plea against violence against women. With great depth, it proposes topics such as memory and the fight for human rights, and valuing cultural diversity in the human community.”

Jury: Isabel Gatti, Pablo De Vita, Nicolás Fabiani


AAC - Argentina Association of Audiovisual Colorists
AAC Award for the Best Treatment of Color in the Argentine Competition
Gonzalo Greco for Vera y el placer de los otros by Romina Tamburello and Federico Actis
Jury statement:
“Because of how it accompanies the story with an intimate image proposal that is at the same time current and modern. Creating climates of freshness and sensuality for the exploration of sexuality in adolescence. At the same time, we highlight the value of a federal film production.”

Honorable Mention: Gustavo Biazzi for Adentro mío estoy bailando by Leandro Koch and Paloma Schachmann
Jury statement:
“For the precision with which it relates the journey that the filmmakers undertake in search of a culture that develops throughout different places, times and realities; weaving together different formats and film and photographic materials in an organic way to the story.”

Jury: Jorge Alberto Acevedo, Eduardo Sierra, Eloísa Yankelevich


EDA - Asociación Argentina de Editores Audiovisuales (Argentine Association of Audiovisual Editors)
EDA Award for Best Editing in the International Competition
Laura Basombrío for Las almas
Jury statement:
“For a montage that, in its precise choice of shots and its duration, together with a sound design that enhances the beautiful photography of ancestral landscapes, builds a dreamlike, mystical, deeply personal and universal experience. It is there, in the magic of that universe that the edition creates, in which we understand that the protagonist's story is also the universal history of the feminist struggle. Thanks to a masterful montage, which gives voice to a woman who in her personal history challenges that of all women, this documentary is a testimony that this is possible.”

Jury: Mariana Quiroga Bertone (Argentina), Gina Giudicelli (Dominican Republic), Adriana Martínez (Mexico)


Women and Cinema
A New Perspective Award - Women and Cinema to Argentine Feature length Films directed by women in all competitive sections
El viento que arrasa by Paula Hernández
Jury statement:
“For reaching a powerful and oppressive climax to narrate two stories in the form of a thriller, putting into discourse different ways of perceiving the world. Giving rise to a generational fight, which is also a theme of Hernández's filmograpy, which she takes up again in this impeccable adaptation of the novel of the same name by Selva Almada."

Honorable Mention: Las almas by Laura Basombrío
Jury statement:
“For proposing a journey as mystical as it is earthly through the dreamlike and ancestral landscapes of northwest Argentina, where the voice of a woman questions herself existentially about life and death, about work, the land and her community. All this through photography and music that captures us from the first to the last scene, allowing us to live an experience close to ecstasy.”

Jury: Annamaria Muchnik, Sabrina Farji, Blanca Maria Monzón


APIMA - Asociación de Productores Independientes de Medios Audiovisuales (Association of Independent Producers of Audiovisual Media)
Best Film Latin American Competition
Crowrã by Renée Nader Messora and João Salaviza
Jury statement:
“For having achieved a deep immersion into an urgent problem, generating a unique piece of great beauty.”

Jury: Vanesa Pagani, Noemí Fuhrer, Javier Díaz


SICA APMA - Sindicato de la Industria Cinematográfica Argentina - Animación, Publicidad y Medios Audiovisuales (Union of the Argentine Film Industry – Animation, Advertising and Audiovisual Media)
SICA APMA "Tato Miller" Award for Best Technical Achievement and Treatment of Socia Issues in the Latin American Competition
El castillo by Martín Benchimol
Jury statement:
“For its attributes in the way of approaching and simply transmitting family relationships and rural life, with its everyday issues and problems through a coherent technical, visual and sound composition at the height of the story.”

Jury: Constanza Buchanan, Felipe Alcalde, Luis Borquez


FEISAL - Federación de Escuelas de Cine de América Latina (Federation of Latin American Film Schools)
FEISAL Award to Best Film in the Official Competition made by a Latin American director up to 35 years old – International, Latin American and Argentine Competitions
Kinra by Marco Panatonic
Jury statement:
“For its technical accounting and the talented work in the visual treatment that, with simplicity and solidly, accounts for the problem it addresses. The management of the duration of the shots stands out, allowing the viewer to enter the world of the characters in an imperceptible way. Kinra makes contributions from several layers of meaning that, based on the elements of the plot, the direction of actors, the selection of locations and the use of the Quechua language, portrays the relationship between different cultural worlds in our region.”

Honorable Mention: Los tonos mayores by Ingrid Pokropek
Jury statement:
“For an enriched story with fantastic tones, full of chance and interpretation games that lead us to an interesting search for meaning in the changes, vicissitudes and vibrations that the protagonist passes through like an antenna, giving us a psychological and profound portrait of the complex transition from childhood to adolescence.”

Jury: Jorge Martínez, Juan Carlos Veiga, Anabella Speziale


SAE - Sociedad Argentina de Editores Audiovisuales (Argentine Society of Audiovisual Editors)
Best Editing for an Argentine Feature length film in the Latin American and Argentine Competitions
Nicolás Herzog, Leandro Aste and Guillermo Saredo for Elda y los monstruos by Nicolás Herzog
Jury statement:
“The formal and narrative creativity of the montage stands out in order to build an effective and emotional dramatic structure, harmoniously articulating ambiguous and diffuse elements, characters, dialogues and situations that are not clearly fictional or documentary. We highlight the playful use of cutting, ellipses, music and other formal resources, achieving a captivating aesthetic result.”

Honorable Mention: Rosario Suárez for El viento que arrasa by Paula Hernández
Jury statement:
“For managing to enhance the expressiveness of the material through the management of rhythm and temporality, the dosage of shots, looks and dialogues, contributing to the construction of an intriguing and complex structure.”

Jury: Liliana Nadal, José Manuel “Copi” Streger, Alejo Santos


RAFMA - Red Argentina de Festivales y Muestras Audiovisuales (Argentine Network of Festivals and Audiovisual Screening programs)
RAFMA - Edgardo “Pipo” Bechara El Khoury Award for the Best Short Film in the Argentine Competition
Quedate quieto o te amo by Luis Federico
Jury statement:
“For its visual power and cinematographic treatment to bring to the screen the poems of the popular poet, cartoonist, performer and activist for LGTTTBIQ visibility: Josue Marcos Belmonte. He masterfully weaves fundamental themes such as love, marginality, sexual dissidence and police violence through a narrative that combines visual, sound and aesthetic elements, transporting the viewer to the poetic world of the artist.”

Jury: Federico Ambrosis, Alejandro R. González, Valeria Boggino


ACCA - Asociación de Cronistas Cinematográficos de Argentina (Association of Cinematographic Press of Argentina)
Best Film of the Argentine Competition
La mujer hormiga by Betania Cappato and Adrián Suárez
Jury statement:
“Unanimously, the jury awards the story the award for the subtlety of its poetic expression, the careful aesthetic treatment to achieve suggestive atmospheres, and for its sensitivity in showing brotherly love with a direction of actresses with a wide interpretive record. Formal decisions loaded with meaning that do not need further explanation.”

Honorable Mention: El empresario by Germán Scelso

Jury: Marcela Gamberini, Hugo Sánchez, Josefina Sartora


PCI - Asociación de Directorxs de Cine PCI - Proyecto de Cine Independiente (Association of Film Directors PCI – Independent Cinema Project)
Award for Artistic Innovation to the Best First or Second Argentine film in All Competitions
La mujer hormiga by Betania Cappato and Adrián Suárez

Jury: Fernando Salem, Manuel Ferrari, Alessia Chiesa


ASA - Asociación Argentina de Sonidistas Audiovisuales (Argentine Association of Audiovisual Sound Engineers)
Best Sound for a Feature lenght Argentine film in All Competitions
Catriel Vildosola for El viento que arrasa by Paula Hernández
Jury statement:
“Catriel Vildosola's work in El viento que arrasa stands out for an admirable sound design that is distinguished by its balance, dynamism, depth and detail. Exceptionally achieving a spatial perspective that provokes a unique sound immersion. The sound supports the structure narrative of the film in an organic way. The dialogues are not imposed above the rest of the elements but are integrated with skill and subtlety into the sound set. The precision in the choice of foley and effects helps us perceive the objects in its materiality and warmth. The environments and their off-screen settings are deep, full of elements and details. The viewer is immersed in the film, feels part of each scene and connects deeply with the characters and the plot.”

Honorable Mention: Lucas Page for Las almas by Laura Basombrío
Jury statement:
“Las almas builds a sound world with a few very well-balanced elements. Moving into the space of the imposing desert landscape and creating an organic framework between music and sound. The careful work of the intimate voice-over stands out, with a particular cadence sustained by variations in intonation and appearances throughout the story. The sound elements transmit calm and mystery, inviting us to enter a receptive state, which connects us with the essence of the film, the souls.”

Honorable Mention: Tu Duu-Chih and Tu Tse Kang for Los colonos by Felipe Gálvez
Jury statement:
“Los colonos build a risky, shocking and, above all, questioning sound design. The conceptual approach allows you, not necessarily to build from what is seen, but to expand spaces of meaning. Making a constant nod towards the western genre and new Latin American cinema. Choose, in some scenes, a hyper realistic sound approach that achieves a strong sensory experience. The construction of highly elaborate environments, juxtaposed with silent spatialities, produce an emptying effect that, combined with very present effects, generates an unreal atmosphere. Los colonos allow themselves a great freedom that is impossible to pigeonhole.”

Jury: Virginia Scaro, Roberta Ainstein, Gerardo Kalmar


AATI - Asociación Argentina de Traductores e Intérpretes (Argentine Association of Translators and Interpreters)
AATI Award for the Best Short Film in the Argentine Competition
Quedate quieto o te amo by Luis Federico
Jury statement:
“Because the short offers a lot of space available for audio description and a beautiful visual poetics, very rich to be worked with from this tool. Although it has few dialogues, the ambient sound enables translation possibilities through the technique of descriptive subtitling and Argentine Sign Language.”

Jury: Federico Sykes, Fernando Galarraga, María Laura Ramos


APAC - Asociación de productores audiovisuales de Córdoba (Association of Audiovisual Producers of Córdoba)
APAC Paola Suárez Award to the Best Film in the Argentine Competition
Vera y el placer de los otros by Romina Tamburello and Federico Actis
Jury statement:
“The jury values the federal production from the province of Santa Fe, carried out by a female director in co-direction. We highlight the clear narrative search for a film with a risky theme, treated with delicacy and supported by comprehensive work in all areas (editing, sound, art). A fresh and naturalistic performance that allows us to accompany the character in his exploration and journey of growth.”

Jury: Inés Moyano, Linda Díaz, Lucas Combina


APPLAA - Asociación de Productoras y Productores de Locaciones Audiovisuales de Argentina (Association of Producers and Producers of Audiovisual Locations of Argentina)
Best Location Design for an Argentine Film in All Competitions
Elena sabe by Anahí Berneri
Jury statement:
“For having achieved not only empathy between the characters, art, light and camera movements but also placed the story in time and space, being congruent and proposing possibilities in the story of the Film. In the same way, we find very interesting the counterpoint between the large, open spaces and the small ones where we discover Elena's deepest intimacy and her struggle to move forward alone and with effort against the adversity of her daughter's absence and her illness.”

Jury: Alejandro Bresciani, Mariel Cecilia Gómez, Andrés Kurfirst


FUNDACIÓN SAGAI (SAGAI Foundation)
Patacón Award for Best Female Performance in an Argentine Feature length Film in All Competitions
Eugenia Alonso for La mujer hormiga by Betania Cappato and Adrián Suárez
Jury statement:
“We believe that her composition is highly valued and the development of her character in conjunction with the character of the sister (Julieta Vallina) achieves very moving moments.”

Patacón Award for Best Male Performance in an Argentine Feature length Film in All Competitions
Julián Larquier Tellarini for Clara se pierde en el bosque by Camila Fabbri
Jury statement:
“We believe that its composition achieves a very sensitive arc and the character transitions are highly effective in the development of the film.”

Jury: Eugenia Guerty, Sergio Surraco, Adriana Salonia


ARGENTORES - Sociedad General de Autores de la Argentina (General Society of Authors of Argentina)
ARGENTORES Award for the Best Script of an Argentine Film in All Competitions
El castillo by Martín Benchimol
Jury statement:
“For the subtle documentary observation of two women and their dilemmas turned into genuine characters through the narrative-dramatic framework that accounts for the defense of principles, identity, and desires.”

Jury: Martín Salinas, Salvador Valverde, Luisa Irene Ickowicz


DAC - Directores Argentinos Cinematográficos (Argentine Film Directors)
Best Argentine Director for an Argentine Film in All Competitions
Martín Benchimol for El castillo

Jury: Lorena Muñoz, Jorge Bechara, Franca González