Three Latin American films have been nominated for this year’s edition of the Gotham Awards: the Mexican film Dos Estaciones by Juan Pablo González for Best Feature; and What We Leave Behind by Mexican-American director Iliana Sosa and the Brazilian film The Territory by Alex Pritz for Best Documentary. Additionally, Latinx filmmaker Beth De Araújo was nominated for the Breakthrough Director Award for her directorial debut Soft & Quiet, and Latinx actor Raúl Castillo nabbed a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performance for his performance in The Inspection.
Winner of a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Dos Estaciones follows iron-willed businesswoman María García, the owner of a once-majestic tequila factory now struggling to stay afloat. The factory is the final holdover from generations of Mexican-owned tequila plants in the highlands of Jalisco, the rest having folded to foreign corporations. Once one of the wealthiest people in town, María knows her current financial situation is untenable. When a persistent plague and an unexpected flood cause irreversible damage, she is forced to do everything she can to save her community's primary economy and source of pride.
What We Leave Behind, the debut feature documentary by Mexican-American director Sosa had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, where it received the Fandor New Voices Award and the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award. The film tells the story of Julián, the grandfather of the director, who at the age of 89, takes one last bus ride to El Paso, Texas, to visit his daughters and their children—a lengthy trip he has made without fail every month for decades. After returning to rural Mexico, he quietly starts building a house in the empty lot next to his home. In the absence of his physical visits, can this new house bridge the distance between his loved ones?
The Territory provides an immersive look at the tireless fight of the Amazon’s Indigenous Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers. With awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the titular landscape and richly textured sound design, the film takes audiences deep into the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau community and provides unprecedented access to the farmers and settlers illegally burning and clearing the protected Indigenous land. Winner of the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award for Documentary Craft at the Sundance Film Festival.
The winners of this year’s Gotham Awards will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on November 28.
