Apocalypse in the Tropics director Petra Costa
Two Latin American films were recognized at the 19th annual edition of Cinema Eye Honors, the international awards dedicated to nonfiction cinema, during a ceremony held in New York City on January 8. Petra Costa’s Brazilian documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics / Apocalipse nos Trópicos received the Production Award (tied with The Alabama Solution), while the Cuban film To the West, in Zapata / Al oeste, en Zapata, directed by David Bim, won the Spotlight Award.
Costa’s latest documentary is a probing exploration of the increasingly blurred line between democracy and theocratic influence in Brazil, focusing on the rising political power of evangelical leaders. With unprecedented access to key figures—including President Lula, former president Jair Bolsonaro, and the country’s most prominent televangelist—Costa follows a charismatic pastor whose ambitions extend toward shaping Brazil’s far-right leadership from behind the scenes.
Apocalypse in the Tropics had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and has screened at major international festivals including Telluride, the New York Film Festival, IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), Camden International Film Festival, and the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The film is currently shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Winner of the Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at Visions du Réel, To the West, in Zapata tells the story of Landi and Mercedes, who live in Cuba’s Zapata Swamp, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. To feed their sick child, Landi must secretly hunt crocodiles, leaving his wife and son behind for days at a time. Set against the backdrop of social unrest and a global pandemic, David Bim’s acclaimed debut feature follows this loving family as they go to extreme lengths to survive, caught in a relentless cycle of reunion and separation.
