Venezuela has selected The Shadow of the Sun / La sombra del sol by Miguel Alejandro Ferrer as the country’s contender for Best International Film at the 96th edition of the Academy Awards.
The film tells the story of Leo, a salt-of-the-earth blue collar worker who is going through the motions of life in the city of Acarigua, nestled in Venezuela's arid inland empire. Plagued by economic hardship, he does any job he can muster to make ends meet and keep his flailing relationship afloat.
Alex, his deaf younger brother, offers an unusual proposition: To join him in a musical contest and sing a song that he has written, for a chance to win a cash prize that will get them both out of their financial troubles. Leo refuses his brother’s "fantasy," but when a workplace incident gets him fired and ridiculed, Leo must take a leap of faith, rediscover his long dormant musical abilities, and win against all odds in order to change his and his brother’s future.
Ferrer is a Venezuelan-American award winning filmmaker with over 18 years in the advertising, film and television industries. His short film deMonica has won numerous awards worldwide including Best Short film in the Venezuelan International Film Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival. His experimental short Culpa was acquired by HBO and has been an official selection at over 15 festivals, garnering finalist accolades as well as Best Actor win for lead Daniel Hernandez.
