Salvadoran-Mexican director Tatiana Huezo was the winner of two awards at the 73rd edition of the Berlin Film Festival for her latest film The Echo / El eco. At the closing night ceremony in the German capital, she was presented with the awards for Best Documentary and for Best Director in the Encounters competition.
In the remote Mexican village of El Echo that exists outside of time, the children care for the sheep and their elders. While the frost and drought punish the land, they learn to understand death, illness and love with each act, word and silence of their parents. A story about the echo of what clings to the soul, about the certainty of shelter provided by those around us, about rebellion and vertigo in the face of life.
Watch Tatiana Huezo's acceptance speech for Best Director in the Encounters competition at the #Berlinale for her most recent documentary THE ECHO / EL ECO. pic.twitter.com/nk1VBDlM6H
— Cinema Tropical (@CinemaTropical) February 26, 2023
The Argentine film The Klezmer Project / Adentro mío estoy bailando by Leandro Koch and Paloma Schachmann was the winner of the Best First Film Award. The documentary film follows Argentine cameraman Leandro, who makes a living from filming Jewish weddings. At one of his jobs, he falls in love with Paloma, the clarinetist of the wedding band. To seduce her he pretends to be shooting a documentary film about Klezmer, the traditional Yiddish folk music. What Leandro does not know is that his “fake” film project will take him on an unscripted journey throughout Eastern Europe in search of the last remaining Klezmer melodies.
Additionally, the Mexican film Tótem by Lila Avilés—the only Latin American entry in the Golden Bear official competition—was awarded with the Ecumenical Prize from an independent jury. Despite very positive reviews and critical acclaim, the film didn’t receive any official awards.
The 73rd edition of the Berlinale took place February 16-26, 2023.
