The International Documentary Association (IDA) has announced Mexican director Manuel Acuña as recipient of the inaugural IDA Netflix Global Emerging Filmmaker Award, with a cash prize of $25,000. The grant supports an international filmmaker undertaking their first or second documentary project.
Acuña, from Guadalajara works as a film director and cinematographer. Graduated in Communication and Audiovisual Arts from ITESO and with a Master's Degree in Documentary from Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV (EICTV) in Cuba. His short films have been screened internationally, at festivals such as the Guadalajara International Film Festival, Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), and Doc Buenos Aires, in addition to having benefited from creation and market meetings such as DocsMx, CC Doc, GoodPitch and Tribeca All Access, for the making of his first documentary feature film as a director.
His current film is El silencio de mis manos / The Silence of My Hands, which follows Rosa and Saira, two Mexican deaf women in love, as they struggle with the adversities of their language, the distance that separates them—and the limited time that they have together, as an unforeseen illness impacts their relationship.
"At Netflix we have an incredible opportunity to find and support the next generation of storytellers around the world, which is why it was important for us to partner with the IDA on the Global Emerging Filmmaker Award.” said Lisa Nishimura, Vice President, Independent and Documentary Film at Netflix. “Manuel's film El slencio de mis manos inspired us with his artistry, commitment and sensitive handling of this story, and we are thrilled that he's the first recipient of this award."
