Utama
by Alejandro Loayza Grisi
logline
In the Bolivian highlands, an elderly Quechua couple has been living the same daily routine for years. When an uncommonly long drought threatens their entire way of life, Virginio and Sisa face the dilemma of resisting or being defeated by the passage of time.
With the arrival of their grandson Clever, the three of them will face, each in their own way, the environment, the necessity for change, and the meaning of life itself.
Details
Directed by
Alejandro Loayza Grisi
Produced by
Santiago Loayza Grisi (Alma Films) & Federico Moreira (La Mayor Cine)
In Coproduction with
Alpha Violet Production
Cast
José Calcina (Virginio)
Santos Choque (Clever)
Luisa Quispe (Sisa)
Crew
Barbara Alvarez, Cinematographer
Fernando Epstein, Editor
Biofilmo
Alejandro Loayza Grisi (1985) is a Bolivian filmmaker. He began his artistic career in still photography and entered the world of cinema through cinematography. Attracted by the stories that can be told through images, he ventured into writing and directing during the preparation of his first feature film Utama.
Aicha, 2019, (DOP), Dochera, 2018, (DOP), Polvo,2017, (DOP), Planeta Bolivia, 2016, (DOP)
Festivals
Sundance Film Festival – World Drama- GRAND JURY PRIZE
Göteborg Film Festival – Ingmar Bergman Competition
Festival de Malaga- Best Ibero American Film/ Best Direction/ Jury Prize/ Best Original Music
Cinelatino Bergen- Opening Film
Cartagena International Film Festival- Fictions from there
Vilnius Film Festival- Panorama
CinéLatino Rencontres de Toulouse- PRIX LYCEEN DE LA FICTION
Istanbul Film Festival- Young Masters
Seattle Film Festival- Ibero American Cinema
San Franciso Film Festival- International Narratives
Milwaukee Film Festival- Worldviews/ Cine sin Fronteras
Cyprus Film Days- Best Film/ Audience Award
Minneapolis St Paul Film Festival- Cine Latino
Blue Mountain Film Festival
Sydney International Film Festival- Official Competition & shortlisted for Sustainable Future Award
Costa Rica International Film Festival- Panorama
Festival Internacional de Guadalajara- Hollywood Press Association Award / Best screenplay/ Best First Film
Midnight Sun Film Festival- Gems of New Cinema
Transilvania International Film Festival- Top Prize/ Audience Award
Fest New Films New Directors Portugal- Honorable Mention Cinematography
FilmFest München- International Independents
Taipei International Film Festival- International New Talent Competition
Skip City Film Festival- Special Jury Prize
New Horizons Film Festival- Discoveries
Melbourne International Film Festival- Latin America
World Cinema Amsterdam- Jury Award & Audience Award
Festival de Cine de Lima- GALAS
Beijing International Film Festival – Best Supporting Actor
Hong Kong International Film Festival – Firebird Awards
First Peoples Festival – Grand Prix Teueikan
UTAMA is the Official BOLIVIAN ENTRY for the Oscar®
Film by the Sea – Panorama
BFI London – Journey
Busan International Film Festival- World Cinema
Vancouver International Film Festival
CineBH International Film Festival- Mostra Continente
International Film Fest Gent- Official Selection
Haifa Film Festival- Golden Anchor Competition
Cairo International Film Festival- Official Selection
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Best of Fest
Film Fra Sor- New Voices Competition
FIC VIÑA – Best Fiction Feature Film
QCinema International Film Festival- New Horizons
UTAMA is nominated for the GOYA in the Ibero American section
CINE LIBRE Festival Iberoamericano de Quito – Mejor Pelicula Panorama Iberoamericano
Bastau International Film Festival – Best Film Award
Joburg Film Festival
Kerala Film Festival – Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film Award
2023
PREMIO PLATINO 2023 – Best Cinematography, Barbara Alvarez, Best original score Cergio Prudencio
Festival de Cine Global de Santo Domingo – Opera Prima Ficción “Jimmy Sierra”
Pune International Film Festival – Global Cinema
Kottayam International Film Festival
Sofia International Film Festival
Festival de Cine Latinoamericano Lenguas Originarias
Bengaluru International Film Festival
Festival de Cine de Chilcovoy- Best Feature Film Award
Sprouts Film Festival – Eco Competition
Seoul International Eco Film Festival- SPECIAL JURY AWARD
REVIEWS
VARIETY Peter Debruge “BREATHTAKING”, “SUBLIME, QUIETLY ELEGIAC”
DEADLINE Todd McCarthy “EXTRAORDINARY”, “IT ‘S A FEAST”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Jordan Mintzer “BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED”
SCREEN INTERNATIONAL Wendy Ide “VISUALLY ARRESTING LOVE STORY FROM BOLIVIA”
INDIEWIRE Carlos Aguilar “VISUALLY STUNNING”
With the support of
