Paulina García and Steven Bauer shoot front film at Primera Mirada in Panama

Now in its 10th year, IFF Panama’s First Look Fund, Primera Mirada, has selected four finalists from a pool of 13 entries. These will be screened in an invitation-only session on April 10th and 11th, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet a jury comprised of Carlos Gutierrez, co-founder and executive director of Cinema Tropical, David Hernandez Palmer, Colombian Indigenous filmmaker and programmer, and Kelly Swanson, executive director of the Indigenous Film Board of Canada.

Looking back on this year’s crop, industry coordinator Cat Caballero, who selected the finalists along with festival executive director Carla Quintero, said, “There’s a strong sense of introspection and identity, and even some symbolism, like seeing it through something as simple as a grain of wheat. I feel like the common thread is how far we’re willing to go with different things, like the limits of being human and how far we’re willing to go.”

The shortlist includes a dystopian thriller (“Gloria”) from director Neto Villalobos (“Helmet Heads”) starring Chile’s Berlinale Silver Bear winner Paulina García, a comedy (“Miriam Lies”) from director Natalia Cabral from the Dominican Republic, and two documentaries, both about identity.

The Panamanian documentary Cusque touches on the identity of people of African descent in Panama. “It’s still a very taboo topic here, and you sometimes hear people say there’s no racism, even though there’s clearly racism,” Caballero said, adding, “The fact that they’re addressing this issue now is really important. And by ‘cousque’ I mean curly hair, especially Afro hair. This is particularly relevant in Panama right now. This comes as there is an ongoing conflict involving children wearing Afro hair in schools. So Panamanian artists and filmmakers are talking about this. ”

Another documentary also deals with identity: indigenous identities and languages, especially those endangered in Venezuela. Entitled “The Language of Water,” it follows Joffris, the last speaker of the Anu language, from the indigenous community of Lake Sinamaica in Venezuela.

“These documentaries have a clear and powerful focus on identity, which feels especially relevant at a time like this when so many assumptions are being questioned, which is why I’m grateful that artists are using their voices to explore these themes.”

The winner of the $15,000 prize will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony on April 12th.

Finalist:

“Cuscú”, Recess Younges, Panama, USA

An intimate, sensory-driven documentary that follows a young woman as she searches for memory, identity, and emotional inheritance within her family. The project, produced by Panama’s Mente Pública (Tropic, Kenke) and US-based Rada Studio, focuses on socially conscious auteur films. Currently in the editing stages, we are constructing a fragmented and poetic narrative that explores belonging. Younges describes it as “an immersive experience where memories and emotions form the structure of the story,” moving between intimate relationships and groups. Isaac said he will serve as lead producer along with co-producers Michelle Stephenson and Joe Brewster.

“Love is a Monster” (El amor es el monstruo), Neto Villalobos, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Chile, Mexico.

This all-female dystopian thriller follows a grandmother and her ageless mission to rescue her kidnapped granddaughter. The film is a Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Chilean co-production with Expansiva Cine (Panama), Chile’s Clara Films, and recently partnered with Mexico’s Liminal Estudio. Featuring Paulina Garcia (“Gloria”), it reflects the producer’s focus on writer-led projects for international co-productions. Villalobos describes the film as a “slow-burning, visceral exploration of love, despair, and moral limits.” Nicholas Wong, whose credits include director Jayro Bustamante’s “La Llorona” and the Peruvian cooking drama “Mistura,” is in charge of the lens.

“My Uncle’s Movie” (“La peli de mi tio”), Natalia Cabral, Dominican Republic.

A dark comedy about a young movie buff who is forced to direct his uncle’s chaotic comeback project. A fateful action movie starring a declining American actor. Produced by Lantica Studios, Faula Films and Casa Latina Films, it reflects strong industry collaboration and international standing. Featuring newcomers Maia Otero and Steven Bauer (Breaking Bad), the film combines satire with a coming-of-age story. Producers Jordi Gasso and Gregorio Rodriguez describe the film as “a fresh, playful piece of Dominican storytelling that mixes humor, heart, and social insight in equal parts.”

“The Language of Water” (“La lengua del agua”), Jaycee Trompis, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Peru, France.

The documentary, about the last speaker of an indigenous language who reluctantly returns to his community after a dream visit with his grandmother, is a four-nation co-production between Casa Latina Films, Alamar Films, Nomada SAC, and Hutong Productions. Supported by the Doha Film Institute, the production reflects a strong international framework and is in line with Casa Latina’s festival-driven direction, which includes ‘Pattaki’ and ‘End’. Helmer Trompis and producer Gregorio Rodrigues say, “We often hear the word ‘endangered’ in relation to plants and animals, but languages ​​are also at risk of extinction, with half of the approximately 7,000 languages ​​in existence at risk of extinction.”