Hummingbirds by Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras
Four Latin American films won some of the top prizes in the Generation competition at the 73rd edition of the Berlin Festival, the section of the festival dedicated to contemporary films exploring the lives and worlds of children and teenagers around the world.
The Crystal Bear for the Best Film in the Generation 14plus was presented to the Mexican film Adolfo by Sofía Auza. An unconventional boy-meets-girl fairytale, the film follows Momo, Hugo and his cactus, Adolfo, who meet one night but are heading in opposite directions. Their peculiar encounter will not only magically change the course of their lives, but also encourage them to warmly embrace the beauty of the unexpected.
The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film, with a cash prize of 7,500 euros, was presented to the USA Latinx film Hummingbirds by directors Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras. Set in Laredo, Texas, the self-portrait film follows the life of two best friends who come-of-age in this border town.
The film Mutt by Chilean-Serbian director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz won a Special Mention in the Generation 14plus. In a written statement, the jury decided to award the the film for its “complex, ambivalent characters and relationships in the story of a single day, where the past comes back into the protagonist’s life. With brilliant acting and surprising storytelling.”
And the Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Short Film, with a cash prize of 2,500 euros was presented to the Brazilian film Infantry / Infantaria by Laís Santos Araújo. The film tells the story of Joana, who is celebrating her birthday party at a fatherless home in conservative and swampy Brazil. She wants to get her period soon, and her brother, Dudu, wants his father home. When teenager Verbena arrives unannounced, all the wishes can come true. But not without some pain.
The 73rd edition of the Berlinale took place February 16-26.
