The Costa Rican film El regreso / The Return (pictured) by Hernán Jiménez was the big winner at the 15th edition of the Icaro Film Festival focused on Central American cinema, which was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Jiménez's debut feature was awarded the prizes for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress.
The film tells the story of Antonio, played by Hernán Jiménez himself, who after a decade abroad returns to Costa Rica for a short visit. Unable to run away as usual, he is confronted with everything he has desperately struggled to put in the past: a broken family, an ailing father, a violent country and long lost friends.
Acclaimed Guatemala filmmaker Julio Hernández Cordón received the prize for Best Director for both of his feature films that were screened at the festival: Polvo / Dust and Hasta el sol tiene manchas / Even the Sun Has Spots. The prize for Best Screenplay was awarded to the Costa Rican film Tres Marías by Francisco González. Other Costa Rican film, the documentary feature Ergonomía para Diana / Ergonomy for Diana by Marcos Machado received a Special Jury Mention.
The award for Best Short Film was presented to Nicté by Andrea Dardón from Guatemala, while the award for Best Experimental Short was presented to the Nicaraguan short film El Globo de Ninette by Jeonathan Aguilar.
