Panama’s 5th International Film Festival Kicks off

The 5th Panama International Film Festival kicked off yesterday night with a red carpet gala at Panama’s historic Teatro Balboa in Panama City.

A who’s who of the Latin American film world walked the red carpet to attend the screening of “Viva”, a Cuban-set Spanish Language film, which was interestingly enough Ireland’s official entry for the 2015 Foreign Language Film Oscar competition. Ireland was permitted to select this film as an official entry, due to director’s Paddy Breathnach's birthplace. 

The film, “Viva”, is a tender story about an 18-year-old Cuban named 'Jesus', played by Hector Medina, who works at a local Havana drag club but dreams of being on stage himself as a performer. This causes conflict with his father who is recently released from prison.

The event was kicked off with speeches. Festival Director Pituka Ortega Heilbronn, spoke of the power of film and cited the example of the Pakistan film “Girl of the River,” about honor killings, which in February of this year won an Academy Award for Best Short and led to the introduction of a law abolishing this practice. “Cinema can change the world,” she said. Her comments were met with loud applause.

The President of the IFF Panama Foundation, Yasser Williams Arosemena said that the success of the festival is partly due to Panamanian culture, a 100-year old history, and key events such as the construction of the Panama Canal which brings international visitors to the country.

IFF Panama Co-founder, Rob Brown, a Canadian arts fundraiser, who is about to be sworn in as a Panamanian citizen, said that studies have demonstrated that every $1 invested in film, produces $13 direct economic benefit for the country.

IFF Panama will screen films until April 13th. You will find film summaries and schedules at iffpanama.org.