The Los Angeles-based organization Film Independent announced this week the nominees for the 39th annual edition of its Spirit Awards, which includes several Latin American and US Latinx nominees: Chronicles of a Wandering Saint by Argentine director Tomás Gómez Bustillo, Upon Entry by Venezuelan directors Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez, Rotting in the Sun by Chilean director Sebastián Silva, the Mexican film Tótem by Lila Avilés, Mountains by Haitian director Monica Sorelle, the Guatemalan film Cadejo Blanco by Justin Lerner, the documentary feature Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project co-directed by Afro-Latina filmmaker Michèle Stephenson
Gómez Bustillo’s Chronicles of a Wandering Saint was nominated for Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. The comedy, which had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival last March is set in the tiny town of Santa Rita where lives Rita, an elderly chapel keeper. She and the women in her church group are in constant competition to see who is the most saintly. But no matter how many times she polishes the chapel floors, her effort is always overlooked. One day, in one of the back rooms, she stumbles upon the town’s beloved statue of Santa Rita, believed to have been stolen decades ago.
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint by Tomás Gómez Bustillo
Seizing the opportunity, she stages a “miracle” that will finally anoint her as the most admired woman in town. With the reluctant help of her neglected husband, Rita finds that the road to sainthood is not exactly glamorous, while the world around her has been brimming with strange magic all along.
Rojas and Vásquez’s Upon Entry was also nominated for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay, in addition to being nominated for Best Editing. The film tells the story of Diego, a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, who move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a family in 'the land of opportunities'.
But upon entering Newark airport’s immigration area, they are taken to the secondary inspection room, where border officers will subject them to an unpleasant inspection process and a psychologically grueling interrogation. Over the next few hours, the fate of Elena, Diego and their dreams is called into question as the officers interviewing them try to discover whether the couple may have something to hide, thus jeopardizing their entry.
Rotting in the Sun by Sebastián Silva
Rotting in the Sun, the latest film by Silva (The Maid, Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus), was nominated for three awards: the John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under one million dollars; for Best Editing, and Chilean actress Catalina Saavedra was nominated for Best Supporting Performance.
In Rotting in the Sun, a filmmaker (played by Silva himself) is facing an existential crisis and decides to go on a vacation to a Mexican gay nudist beach, where he meets a social media celebrity (influencer Jordan Firstman), who convinces him to collaborate with him on his new TV show. But one disappears and another embarks on a wild journey through Mexico City to find him.
The Guatemalan film Cadejo Blanco by American director Lerner was also nominated for the John Cassavetes Award. The intense, nail-biting thriller tells the story of Sarita, who goes out dancing one night at the insistence of her free-spirited sister, Bea. Uncharacteristically, Sarita dances the night away, heading home alone when the party drags on too late. The next morning, after calling friends and neighbors, Sarita begins to panic when she realizes that Bea never made it home. The police are indifferent and unhelpful, but Sarita suspects that Bea's disappearance has something to do with Andrés, her sister’s dangerous ex.
Cadejo Blanco by Justin Lerner
Realizing she must take matters into her own hands, Sarita finds a way to befriend him and infiltrate his gang. With an unwavering determination, Sarita becomes increasingly involved with Andrés and the ruthless, violent underworld of Guatemalan street gangs.
The Mexican film Tótem, the second feature by Avilés (The Chambermaid), was the only Latin American film to nab a nomination for Best international Film. Mexico’s Oscar contender is set in a bustling Mexican household, where seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for the birthday party for her father, Tona, led by her mother, aunts, and other relatives. As the day goes on, building to an event both anticipated and dreaded, Sol begins to understand the gravity of the celebration this year and watches as her family does the same.
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project by Afro-Latina director Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, was nominated for Best Documentary. This award-winning documentary travels through time and space to reveal the enduring influence of Nikki Giovanni, one of America’s greatest living artists and social commentators. Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project reckons with the inevitable passing of time through a collision of memories, moments in American history, live readings, and visually innovative treatments of Giovanni’s poetry.
Tótem by Lila Avilés
Haitan director Monica Sorelle was nominated for the Someone to Watch Award for her debut feature Mountains. The film tells the story of a Haitian demolition worker, who is faced with the realities of redevelopment as he is tasked with dismantling his rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Director Set Hernandez was nominated for the Truer than Fiction Award—presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition—for his debut feature unseen. The documentary feature tells the story of Pedro, a Mexican aspiring social worker, who as a blind, undocumented immigrant, faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job as a health care provider, and support his family. As he finally graduates, uncertainty looms over Pedro. What starts as a journey to provide mental health for his community ultimately transforms into Pedro’s path towards his own healing.
And lastly, Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain was nominated for Best Lead Performance for her role as Sylvia in Memory, the latest film by Mexican director Michel Franco (Chronic, New Order). Chastain plays a social worker who leads a simple and structured life. This is blown open when Saul follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past.
The winners of the 39th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
