National cinema experienced a significant renaissance this year, regaining its presence both locally and internationally. However, 2023 was not without controversy. From the heated debates over incentives for national productions to the growing importance of female voices, the future of the industry is once again on the table. Peruvian cinema.
Achieving box office success from films such as Single, married, widowed, divorced And Beautiful islandby Ani Alva Helfer, and the triumph in Mar de Plata by Kinradirected by Marco Panatonic highlighted the diversity and vitality of our film landscape and suggested an encouraging future.
However, despite the success, controversy arises. The proposals put forward by the congresswoman to change economic incentives Adriana Tudela have sparked mixed opinions and raised crucial questions about the direction the industry could take in the coming years.
Although the target of the economic stimulus provided by the government Condition is still unclear, there is no denying that Peruvian films and filmmakers continue to receive recognition and acclaim. Below are some important aspects to consider to understand the Peruvian cinema landscape in 2023.
Kinra, winner in Mar de Plata
The Peruvian film Kinra won the award for Best Feature Film in the International Competition during the 38th edition of the Mar del Plata Festival. Directed by Marco Panatonic and spoken in Quechua, the film stood out for its powerful narrative and focus on migration, offering a moving visual testimony to the struggle for identity. This milestone is set Kinra as the most internationally outstanding Peruvian production since then The scared tit by Claudia Llosa, who received the Golden Bear in Berlin in 2009.
With the determination to challenge stereotypes and prejudices, the film aims to show the most forgotten Peru without censorship and aims to participate in various festivals to spread an authentic vision of the country. In an interview with RPPPanatonic expressed gratitude for the experience and noted the challenges facing the film industry, stressing the importance of continuing to fight against the obstacles and “fascism” that threaten cinema in the country.
The success of women in cinema
Ani Alva Helper Thanks to the success of her latest work, she has managed to establish herself as the highest-grossing director in Peru for the third year in a row. Single, married, widowed, divorced. This film not only reached one million viewers, but also set the record for the longest run by a woman in the cinema, running for 27 weeks.
In addition, the film continued its success on the Netflix platform, where it was positioned as the most watched film upon its premiere. “Reaching one million viewers in our country with a film starring women is a historic event and opens an important path for many women in the film industry,” said Gianella Neyra, actress and producer of the film.
Another notable moment in the film scene was the release of Susy, a star in CongressFilm inspired by the life of Susy Diaz, an icon of Peruvian popular culture. Despite strong competition such as Five Nights at Freddy's, the film managed to captivate more than 400,000 viewers and establish itself as the fourth highest-grossing Peruvian production of 2023.
The Tudela Bill
In September, congressmen Adriana Tudela triggered a heated debate in the Peruvian film industry with the submission of a bill. This proposal aims to change the way subsidies are granted to national productions, which is met with significant opposition from the artists' association and filmmakers.
He Ministry of Culture spoke out against the project, arguing that economic incentives were not intended to fund the full costs of film projects. Likewise the collective In defense of Peruvian cinemaunder the direction of the filmmaker Rossana Diaz Costaexpressed his opposition in RPP, calling the measure “dangerous for Peruvian cinema.”
The controversy intensified with the congressman's statements Alejandro Cavero, which questioned the allocation of funds to filmmakers through competitions and expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of economic incentives. “Today 26 million soles are wasted on economic stimulus and I don’t see a single film that deserves absolutely nothing,” he said.
The Monroy case, the best Peruvian premiere
After 15 years, Joshua Mendez He returned to film directing with the premiere of “The Monroy Case”. The tragicomedy with the Mexican Damian Alcazarplunges us into the depths of corruption, bureaucracy and other evils that plague our justice system, presenting us with a society trapped in a seemingly unbreakable vicious circle.
Rodrigo BedoyaProducer and programmer of the Lima University Film Week Festival, shared with RPP that despite the lack of consistent development of the film's stories, the film brilliantly showcases Méndez's talent. “It is a film that has its merits, it introduces us to the world of everyday corruption. Josué deals with this in an interesting way; he’s a good director.”
“It is the best Peruvian film to be released in commercial cinemas in 2023,” he added. Juan Carlos Ugarelli, critic in Las Horas Rojas. “The film strikes a balance between social drama and absurd comedy and offers a sarcastic portrait of the shortcomings of Peru's justice system: bureaucracy, corruption and abuse of power. In addition, it boasts the best cast that Peruvian cinema has to offer this year.” “.
Francisco Lombardi, member of the Academy
The prominent Peruvian filmmaker Francisco Lombardi He had an unforgettable year. In addition to the release of his film Amelia's Decision in August, he celebrated significant anniversaries in his filmography, such as the 40th anniversary of Maruja in helland was honored with an invitation to join the exclusive group of members of the Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
However, during an interview on the show Things as they arefrom RPPLombardi revealed the current challenges he faces in financing his films, citing a shift in support from Spanish television as well as Europe's growing preference for its own productions compared to Latin America.
The race for the Oscar
In August the NERD announced the films that wanted to represent the country in the Oscar Awards and Goya. Oscar contenders included “The Bachelorette 2,” “Uncrowned Queens” and Toribio Bardelli's “Erection,” while “La pampa,” “Willaq Pirqa” and “Future Times” also sought Oscar nominations Goya.
The controversy erupted when the posting was decided Toribio Bardelli's erectiondirected by Adrián Saba, at the Oscars and Willaq Pirqa, directed by César Galindo, for Goya. This choice sparked a heated debate on social networks as the public disagreed with the films chosen to represent Peruvian cinema at both awards ceremonies.
Although none of them managed to advance in the race, Peru maintains its participation in the 2024 Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Short Film category with “Wings of Dust,” directed by “Wings of Dust.” Giorgio Ghiotto. The plot follows the story of the journalist Vidal Mermalwho is leading the fight against a new threat from multinational mining companies.
What did Peruvians see in 2023?
In 2023, Peruvian cinema experienced a remarkable boom, marking five films that conquered the box office. Single, married, widowed, divorceddirected by Ani Alva Helfer, topped the list with an impressive 1,034,492 viewers, closely followed by Asu Mare: The friends, by Carlos Alcántara, which captivated 717,321 people. Likewise Isla Bonita, also by Alva Helfer, Susy, a vedette in Congress, directed by Liliana Alvarezand Desired Bachelorette 2, by Joanna Lombardicompleted the top 5.
According to Cinencuentro, this year was also marked by an impressive increase in national film production, with a total of 80 feature films hitting theaters. This number represents a new record, surpassing the 74 premieres of the previous year and confirming that Peruvian cinema, despite all the controversy, still has a lot to tell.
The 10 most watched Peruvian films in 2023
Single, married, widowed, divorced (1,034,492)
Asu Mare: The Friends (717,321)
Pretty Island (485,419)
Susy Díaz: The Movie (414,653)
Coveted Bachelorette 2 (247,884)
A Huge Adventure (106,403)
Milagros, an extraordinary bear (93,433)
Piru (92,352)
I am innocent (72,041)
Exit ban (69,297)
Spring: @soyalpacine
The 10 most watched films in Peru in 2023
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (3,760,064)
Super Mario Bros., the movie (3,282,771)
Barbie (2,009,723)
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (1,818,360)
Fast and Furious X (1,759,082)
The Nun II (1,109,769)
Five Nights at Freddy's (1,103,598)
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (1,039,875)
Single, married, widowed and divorced (1,034,492)
Primary school (1,033,494)
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