Utama
by Alejandro Loayza Grisi
►Synopsis
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.
Specifications
Bolivia/Uruguay/France 2022 87mn 2.39:1 Quechua & Spanish 1st Feature Film
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- International Competition
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”
