Heli (pictured), the third feature film by Mexican director Amat Escalante was awarded the top prize at the 17th edition of the Lima Film Festival, which ran August 9-17 in Peru. The film, winner of the prize for Best Director at Cannes, tells the story of Estela, a 12 year old girl who has just fallen crazy in love with a young police cadet who wants to run away with her and get married. Trying to achieve this dream, her family will have to live the violence that is devastating the region.
The top documentary prize went to the Peruvian film ¡KachKarinaqmi! Sigo siendo by Javier Corcuera, while the Mexican film La Jaula de Oro by Diego Quemada-Diez won two prizes for Best First Film and Best Cinematography. The Chilean film Gloria by Sebastián Lelio was also awarded with two prizes for Best Director and Best Actress.
Kleber Mendonça Filho's Neighboring Sounds / O som ao redor was named Best Film by the Peruvian Motion Picture Press Association (APRECI), the Brazilian film was also awarded the prize for Best Screenplay.
