Panama has selected the biographical documentary feature Tito, Margot & Me / Tito, Margot y yo as its official submission for best international film at the 96th Academy Awards. Directed by Mercedes Arias and Delfina Vidal, the film tells the story of the love life between Panamanian diplomat Roberto 'Tito' Arias and British ballerina Margot Fonteyn, who lived their love between international entertainment and political conspiracies.
Tito, Margot & Me, which had its world premiere at the Panama International Film Festival, is an intimate look at the life of the lady of the British Empire and first ballerina of the Royal Ballet and her Central American diplomat husband, who was the son of a Panamanian president. The filmmakers took a journey through the visible past and at the same time imaginary, in search of the meaning and the signifier of love for this couple that remained united for more than three decades, accompanied by the last testimonies that validated their perspective of it history.
Tito, Margot & Me becomes the tenth Panamanian Oscar submission since the Central American country first entered a candidate in the international feature race in 2014. In 2021, Abner Benaím’s Plaza Catedral made it to the Academy Awards shortlist.
