Paraguay has announced the selection of the documentary The Last / Los últimos as the country’s official Oscar entry for the Best International Feature category. The assured debut feature by Sebastián Peña Escobar is an unexpected blend of buddy comedy and road movie set in the forests of the Chaco region, presented in the form of an environmental documentary.
The Last follows three skeptical ecologists—an ornithologist, an entomologist, and the director himself—on a journey to Paraguay’s last virgin forests, where they engage in passionate debates about the future of our species. As a massive wildfire threatens the area, the travelers confront the inevitability of their conclusions with irony and dark humor. The film had its world premiere in the main competition at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) last year and has since played at numerous international film festivals.
The Last marks Paraguay’s eighth Oscar submission, though the country has yet to secure a nomination. Previous entries, such as The Heiresses / Las herederas (2018) by Marcelo Martinessi, have garnered international acclaim, highlighting Paraguay's growing presence in global cinema. With The Last, Peña Escobar brings an urgent environmental message wrapped in a unique cinematic approach, further cementing Paraguay’s evolving contributions to the world of film.
