The Ecuadorian film project Los ángeles no tienen alas by Paraguayan-born director Enrique Boh, is the winner of the Cinema Tropical prize at the 12th annual edition of LABEX, the Latin American film lab for development and production of first or second feature films, which took place November 12-14.
Set in an Afro-Ecuadorian community on the Pacific coast on the border with Colombia, the film follows Adelaida she confronts her brother Ángel, who is ready to sell the family's ancestral property. Nevertheless, the siblings make a pact: Ángel will leave town if she gets her share of the money before the death of her father, who lies prostrate. With the help of a parish priest, Adelaida struggles to raise the money, but Ángel cheats and sells the farm.
The jury, composed by Costa Rican director Natalia Solórzano, Chilean director Francina Carbonell, and Argentine producer Paula Zyngierman, decided to present the award to the Ecuadorian project for offering a “look at a little-explored area of cinema in the region; Ecuadorian Afro-descendants, entering a real scenario for its realization, relying on the local community. With great quality and risk assumed by its female protagonist.”
The Cinema Tropical Prize consists of a personalized film festival and distribution consultancy for the filmmakers. Additionally, Los ángeles no tienen alas also received the Zub Sonido and VIvace Post Awards
The Work in progress competition was won by the Brazilian project Açucena, while the Development competition was won by the Ecuadorian film project Rotacismo. Additionally the Argentine project La noche adentro and the Chilean project Algún días las raíces, received Special Jury Mentions consisting of additional in-kind support for post-production.
