The Guatemalan Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences has announced that Rita, the latest film by Jayro Bustamante, will compete for the Central American country in the International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards. This marks the third time the director has had a film selected for the Oscars, following Ixcanul in 2015 and La Llorona in 2020, which made the shortlist.
The fourth film by Bustamante—winner of the Best Cinematography Award at the Fantasia Film Festival, where it had its world premiere—is a dark fantasy movie, set in a magical realist world, and is based on the true story behind one of Guatemala’s most harrowing tragedies. Rita shines a light on the brave orphans whose fight for survival inspired a nationwide outcry for justice and reform.
While fleeing a neglectful household, thirteen-year-old Rita is placed in an oppressive state-run orphanage. Her arrival provides a glimmer of hope to the girls inside, who share a prophecy that an angel will appear to release them. Encouraged by one another, the girls plan an escape to claim their freedom and expose the orphanage’s abuses.
Starring Giuliana Santa Cruz, Alejandra Vasquez, Ángela Quevedo, Isabel Aldana, Sabrina de la Hoz, Margarita Kénefic, and Maria Telón, Rita features a cast of Guatemalan first-time performers. These young actors collaborated with Bustamante to develop their characters' backgrounds and elements of the film’s magical realism. The film will premiere on the horror streaming site Shudder on November 22.
