Rompiendo La Ola at IFF Panama

Annie Canavaggio’s “Romper La Ola” (Breaking the Wave) will screen at this year’s International Film Festival (IFF) Panama. The documentary about three Santa Catalina Surfers, Oli, Deivis and Cholito, explores the challenge of becoming a professional surfer in a small town. Last May, the three surfers along with Gary Saavedra, represented Panama in the 2013 ISA World Surfing Games (WSG) that took place in Santa Catalina. The games came to an emotional close with Oli taking home a silver medal on his home break.

Playacommunity had the opportunity to speak with Annie Canavaggio last year at the ISA WSG. At the time, Annie had been in Santa Catalina for 5 years. With an extensive background in filmmaking, Annie wanted to use her talent to bring light to what surfing meant to the 3 local Santa Catalina surfers. While illuminating the struggle many Panamanian surfers face to gain recognition, she captured the beauty of Santa Catalina, and Oli, Deivis & Cholito’s ability to create their own paths to success defying limitations.

Rompiendo La Ola is one of 8 films in the section ‘Stories of Central America and the Caribbean’. This portion of IFF aims to promote the emerging film industry nationally, and in brother countries. Each film in this section is significant to Panamanian life and culture.



Rompiendo La Ola will be showing at Teatro Nacional (Sala MasterCard) April 4 at 8:00 p.m. and at Cinépolis Multiplaza (Sala 6 de Copa Airlines) April 6 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.ticketplus.com.pa/ before April 2. After April 2 all tickets must be purchased at the box office. For more info on IFF and the films in that will be showing in this year’s festival visit: http://www.iffpanama.org/.