Big Wins for Latin America at Sheffield DocFest

Runa Simi by Augusto Zegarra

Several Latin American films were recognized with major awards at the 32nd edition of Sheffield DocFest, which concluded this evening at the Crucible Playhouse in the UK. Films from Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras, and Peru were among those honored at the closing ceremony, reflecting the strength and diversity of nonfiction filmmaking across the region.

Among the most lauded works at this year’s festival was Comparsa, directed by Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson and executive produced by La Llorona director Jayro Bustamante. The film took home two major awards: the Grand Jury Award in the International First Feature Competition and the Shine Global Children’s Resilience Award for Documentary. A co-production between Guatemala and the U.S., Comparsa follows the extraordinary story of two sisters who, through street performance and protest, lead a group of girls in reclaiming public space and confronting systemic gender-based violence. The jury praised the film’s creativity, emotional depth, and powerful message of collective resistance and hope. Shine Global highlighted its inspiring portrait of youth resilience and the transformational power of art.

Another significant win went to Carmela and the Walkers / Carmela y los caminantes by Luis Herrera and Esteban Coloma, which received a Special Mention in the International First Feature Competition. Representing Ecuador, the film offers a deeply human and empathetic look at migration through the everyday heroism of one woman. The jury acknowledged its intimacy, urgency, and its moving portrayal of solidarity in times of crisis.

In the International Short Film Competition, Oscurana by Violeta Mora, a co-production between Honduras, Hungary, Portugal, and Belgium, earned a Special Mention for its powerful aesthetic and evocative depiction of the immigrant experience. The jury celebrated its poetic minimalism and timely exploration of human rights.

Peruvian director Augusto Zegarra was awarded the Youth Jury Prize for his debut feature Runa Simi, a moving tribute to the preservation of Indigenous language and identity through the lens of popular cinema. The film, which last week won the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, follows a man’s quixotic quest to dub Disney’s The Lion King into Quechua, celebrating the vibrancy of Indigenous culture and issuing a powerful call for language justice. Hailed for its soulful intergenerational cast and stunning cinematography, the film resonated deeply with the youth jury for its celebration of decolonial storytelling and the unifying power of film.

Running from June 18 to 23, this year’s edition of Sheffield DocFest featured 114 premieres and hosted over 2,600 delegates from 81 countries, reaffirming its position as a key global platform for nonfiction storytelling, with Latin American filmmakers making a notable impact across the program.