Competitions, Special Activities and Screenings on the Fourth Day
Diego Peretti, Cazzu, Juan Cabral, Iván Vescovo, Ricardo M. Jacobo and Karla Badillo were among the renowned figures who took part in the Festival’s fourth day.
On Monday, November 10, the 40th edition of the Festival—supported by the Secretariat of Culture of the Nation—began the day with the International Competition, featuring Oca, the debut film by director, producer and screenwriter Karla Badillo, at the Astor Piazzolla Hall.
Regarding her work, Badillo said: “This film came to me in a dream I couldn’t quite decipher. I also have a deep religious background, which allowed me to explore its story. I once wanted to be a nun, but over time I discovered that such a life can be complicated, with many limitations within religion.”
In the Festival’s children’s section, The Light of Aisha, by Shadi Adib, offered a delightful experience for families. The day continued with the Latin American Competition, screening 3,000 km by Bike by Iván Vescovo at Cine Paseo Aldrey. The documentary tells the story of Iñaki Mazza, an Olympic BMX champion who retires in his twenties, facing a personal crisis with the world of sports and himself. The screening drew large audiences both in the morning and during the evening show.
Special Activities also continued at the Rambla Hall of the Casino Central. On this occasion, Hugo Grosso, director of Donde comienza el camino, and Lorena Yenni, director of Birrilata, una vuelta en tren, opened a discussion panel on Fernando Birri, followed by a talk about the future of Israeli cinema, with Aviv Ben Shlush (Oxygen producer), Jorge Weller (Hello! Bye… director), Elisa Dor (Hello! Bye… screenwriter), Michal Giladi (Estate producer), Yaakov Zada-Daniel (Estate actor), and Hedva Goldschmidt (A Letter to David producer).
Weser, running in the Argentine Competition, was another highlight of the day at Alberti 2115, with the presence of director Fernando Spiner, Natalia Spiner—who composed the film’s music—and producer Malena Villafañe. Meanwhile, director Ricardo M. Jacobo spent the afternoon with audiences attending his film I’m Your Message, screened as part of the Special Screenings section. The film tells the story of Ana and Lucio, who invent a religion and found a small cult within a wealthy, gated community. They perform rituals, pray, and tend a garden where they grow a psychoactive plant for their ceremonies. Mara, searching for her brother Damián, joins the group. What initially seems idyllic soon reveals its darker side. After consuming the plant’s pollen, Mara hallucinates, connects with Lucio, and uncovers Ana’s sinister plan. When she tries to escape, she discovers the end of the world. The filmmaker and composer said to the audience: “I’m very happy to be here. This is the first time this work will be seen in Argentina. I also want to thank part of the team who joined us today.”
The night closed with the screening of Hello! Bye… by Jorge Weller, and new screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and 3,000 km by Bike.
