Uruguay submitted the time travel drama “Don’t You Let Me Go” (“Agarrame fuerte”) to compete for the Best International Feature Award at the 98th Oscar Awards. The drama, which won the Nora Ephron Award at its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, is the latest film from director duo Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge (“So Much Water”), and is also nominated for Best Ibero-American Feature Film, the Goyas’ equivalent of the Oscars.
Piku follows 39-year-old Adela, who is shocked by the death of her best friend Elena, but she unexpectedly travels back in time to a beach house from 10 years ago, where she is reunited with Elena, her friend Lucy, and her young son Paco. What begins as a weekend filled with joy, music, and memories develops into an amazing adventure when Paco discovers a portal that extends their time together. During these endless moments, Adela feels peace, a rekindled bond, and a deeper appreciation for friendship and love.
Don’t You Let Me Go, produced by Agustina Chiarino (Monos) under her Bocacha Films banner, features a predominantly female cast and crew. The film extends Chiarino’s enduring partnership with Guevara and Jorge and highlights their shared dedication to elevating strong female voices on both sides of the camera. Starring Chiara Urcade, Victoria Jorge, and Eva Dans.
Guevara and Jorge, both from Montevideo, Uruguay, met at university and began a long-term collaboration that began with the short films El Cuarto del Fondo (2006), Summer Runners (2009) and 60 Candles (2015). Their feature debut, “So Much Water” (“Tanta agua”), had its world premiere at the Berlinale and went on to win awards on the festival circuit, including San Sebastian, Cartagena, Miami, Guadalajara, and Lima.
Their latest feature comes as Uruguay has seen an increase in domestic and international output, thanks to a $1 million selective fund for national projects and a cash rebate fund that provides $12 million in reimbursement for co-production and international production services.
At the 5th Iberseries & Platino Industria conference in Madrid, Uruguay’s national film agency ACAU announced a number of upcoming projects, including pictures from Cimarrón (The Wild Wind), Andres Varela (Benedetti, 60 años con luz) and actor-director Daniel Hendler, whose film 27 Nights opened the San Sebastián festival.
The Oscar international feature film shortlist will be announced on December 16th, with the five finalists announced on January 22nd.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15th next year, and Spain’s Goya Awards will be held on February 28th next year.
