The Cartagena Film Festival is the longest running film festival in Latin America. It was founded in 1960 by Colombian radio broadcaster, journalist and entrepreneur Victor Nieto. Nieto served as festival director for 48 years, despite ill health during his later life.
The main goal of the festival is to stimulate the development of the film industry and audiovisual arts in Colombia and Latin America in general. Although the Cartagena Film Festival screens the latest films from all over the world, Latin American cinema has remained its main focus for decades. One of the festival’s sections, Colombia al 100%, is solely dedicated to works by Colombian filmmakers. Many Colombian film directors and producers want their films to premiere at FICCI so the program of the festival includes plenty of national and international premieres of Colombian films.
The Cartagena Film Festival is a competitive festival. Its main prize is called India Catalina. India Catalina was the daughter of the local chief from the Colombian Atlantic coast. She was abducted by Spanish conquerors and sent to Santo Domingo. Having learned Spanish, she accompanied Pedro de Heredia, acting as an interpreter. Just like India Catalina was an intermediary between the Spanish and the Native Americans, the Cartagena Film Festival is a bridge between Colombian filmmakers and the international film market.
The Golden India Catalina award is awarded by the international jury in several categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Colombian Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary. Other awards include Special Jury Award, Special Jury Award Best Documentary, FIPRESCI Award, and others. The Golden India Catalina award is awarded to films in Spanish or Portuguese, it has been won by filmmakers from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Spain, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala, and Portugal.
Photo: columbia.travel
