aluCine 21st Latin Film + Media Arts Festival
Awards
aluCine’s Festival awards exist to reward the talent, creativity and unique filmmaking capabilities of Latin American artists and their ability to move audiences with their innovative and inspiring work. We celebrate each of their distinct styles and the unique lens through which they view the world.
aluCine Best Film Award
The Ritual to Beauty - dir. Shenny de Los Angeles & Maria Marrone
Jury Statement: “The Ritual to Beauty was awarded the aluCine Best Film Award for its stunning visuals and powerful message about the often unspoken ties between generations of Dominican women and the unique connection of a family’s hair journey - a symbol of trauma and strength.”
Best Documentary Award
Presented by Hot Docs
Ni Aquí / Ni Allá - dir. Ley Comas
Jury Statement: “Ni Aqui/ Ni Allá was awarded Best Documentary Award for its original, experimental approach to documenting the beautiful, relatable and difficult relationship with one’s parent as a Queer Latinx person.”
Best Fiction Film Award
Flight - dir. Kia Moses
Jury Statement: “Flight was awarded the Best Fiction Award because of the powerful, inventive storytelling that provides a new perspective on the coming-of-age narrative and highlights our grief and the longing for connection to our loved ones.”
Best Local Film Award
Presented by Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto
Sinvergüenzilla in "First Kiss" - dir. Anita Abbasi
Jury Statement: “Sinvergüenzilla in "First Kiss" was awarded the Best Local Film Award because of the striking visuals, comedic humor, and heartwarming story about humanity during these uncertain times - a film our hearts needed during this time!”
Audience Choice Award
FRAGMENTOS - dir. Juan Pablo Pinto Mendoza and Sebastian Ignacio Oreamuno
Honourable Mentions:
Negra - dir. Medhin Tewolde Serrano
Jury Statement: “Negra was selected as an Honorable Mention because of the impactful, first-person storytelling and journey to self discovery in an often under-documented community in Mexico.”
BORRACHERO - dir. Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea
Jury Statement: “BORRACHERO was selected as an Honorable Mention for it’s breathtaking visuals --images like watercolour paintings brought to life-- and the eerie, tense tones of music and sound design that permeate the film.”
Inabitável / Unliveable - dir. Matheus Farias & Enock Carvalho
Jury Statement: “Inabitável / Unliveable was chosen as the Honourable Mention for its incredibly powerful storytelling and cinematography. A Queer sci-fi narrative that is not only handled with care but with innovation and imagination.”
aluCine seeks to showcase excellence and innovation in contemporary Latin American film and new media works. Our annual festival functions as a vital Canadian outlet for emerging and established Latin filmmakers living in Canada, Latin America and the diaspora, while our year-round screenings, symposiums and workshops promote the development of Latin film and culture in Toronto. In all of our endeavours, aluCine strives to transgress aesthetic, ideological and geographical borders and to transcend pre-established notions of representation as they pertain to Latin American culture in Canada.
ALUCINE 2021 JURY MEMBERS
Aashna Thakkar
Aashna Thakkar (she/her) is an Indo-Canadian interdisciplinary artist, film programmer, and writer based in Toronto. She is currently the Manager of Programming at the Regent Park Film Festival and has previously held positions at the Breakthroughs Film Festival and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
Cecilio Escobar
Cecilio Escobar is a filmmaker and Video Editor in Tkaronto. He’s part of Toronto Queer Film Festival as their Video Technical Director and Co-Editor for Chase Joynt’s Film Framing Agnes. His most recent film LatinX is a biographical exploration of the intersections between his gender, family migration and cultural identities.
Kristal Sotomayor
Kristal Sotomayor is a bilingual Latinx festival programmer, documentary filmmaker, and freelance journalist based in Philadelphia. They serve as the Awards Competition Manager for the International Documentary Association, Programming Director for the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, and Co-Founder/Journalist for ¡Presente! Media. Currently, they are working on the documentary film Expanding Sanctuary and docu-animation film Alx Through The Labyrinth.