The selection from the Caribbean island included works such as “La nina y el mar” (The Girl and the Sea) by Ray Ortega Moreno; “Tres Tres Tres” (Three Three Three) by Aldo Daniel Luberta; “Titoverse: Genesis” by Daniel Martin Subiaut; and “Adagio” by filmmakers Daniel and David Zamora Xiquez. The latter creators explained that their production portrays a dystopian reality heavily inspired by current daily life.

From South America, standout pieces included “Llena” (Full) by Wayner Tristao; “Munwcos de estado en golpes de plastico” (State Dolls in Plastic Coups) by Wlisses Alves; “Por lo que fue” (For What It Was) by Julia Leite, Luis Fanzeres, Marcela Lesniczki, and Rafael Sabioni; as well as “El monstruo del miedo” (The Monster of Fear) by Eduardo Padrao and Andrew Gledson.

This last entry addresses global issues such as politics and school bullying, set against the backdrop of the 2019 Brazilian election. The short film promotes a message of resistance, where community unity provides the strength needed to overcome adversity.

Argentine cinema also made a significant mark with “La isla de basura” (The Garbage Island), directed by Carolina Feity. This work, with a strong environmental focus, aims to raise awareness about pollution and the extreme danger threatening marine biodiversity. The festival also featured entries from filmmakers from Chile, Mexico, and Spain.

Industry experts agreed that the competition’s thematic selection demonstrates the organic commitment of emerging filmmakers to their historical context. Through diverse animation techniques, the creators depicted their environments with originality in both form and storytelling.

The competing works are being evaluated by an international jury that includes Brazilian filmmaker Thiago Calcado; Argentine stop-motion specialist Paola Becco and Cuban filmmaker Ivette Ávila, recently honored at the Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

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