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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Colombia Takes Center Stage at Cannes, led by Simón Mesa Soto's ‘A Poet' in Un Certain Regard
Colombia has a robust presence in Cannes this year, starting with Un Certain Regard entry 'A Poet' ('Un Poeta') by Simón Mesa Soto, whose career trajectory has been linked to Cannes thus far. He premiered his debut feature 'Amparo' at Cannes Critics' Week in 2021. Prior to that, Mesa Soto, who studied Audiovisual Communications at the University of Antioquia in Colombia and later pursued a Master's degree at the London Film School, won the 2014 Cannes short film Palme d'Or with his thesis short film, 'Leidi,' while his next short film, 'Mother,' was selected to compete in Cannes two years later. More from Variety Luke Evans Joins Noomi Rapace in 'Traction,' Action-Thriller Set in Chechnya (EXCLUSIVE) Neon Names Cinetic's Ryan Werner as President of Global Cinema Mexican Helmer Alex Kahuam, in Cannes' Fantastic Pavilion With 'The Remedy,' Eyes European Locations for Next Major Project (EXCLUSIVE) 'A Poet' follows Oscar Restrepo (played by non-pro Ubeimar Rios), whose devotion to poetry has earned him little more than obscurity. Now aging and erratic, he embodies the archetype of the forgotten poet, lost in the shadows. But when he crosses paths with Yurlady (non-pro Rebeca Andrade), a talented teenager from humble origins, he finds new meaning in helping her grow as a poet. However, as he gets more involved in guiding her, he starts to wonder if bringing her into the difficult and uncertain world of poetry is really the best thing for her. The film shifts tonally between comedy, drama, parody and tragedy—making it, according to Mesa Soto, his most personal work to date. 'As I was finishing my first film, I felt overwhelmed and somewhat disillusioned with filmmaking and art—it's so hard, especially in Colombia. I even considered quitting cinema altogether. I'm also a university professor, so I thought maybe I'd just focus on teaching. I imagined myself in 20 years as a kind of bohemian professor, living off his past, like some of the poet-like teachers I knew in Medellín—eccentric, stuck in a surreal world where they believed they were great artists. That image haunted me. I thought: what if I made a film about the worst version of myself in 20 years if I gave up on cinema?' he says. Inspired by people in his life, the initial idea was to write and direct a freer, unrestrained kind of film, he says, adding: 'I was drawn to comedy because I wanted to reconnect with the joy of filmmaking—to enjoy the process again. Humor allowed me to laugh at myself as an artist and at the struggles of making art in a country like Colombia. I wanted something without formal constraints, not bound by expectations of what Latin American cinema 'should' be, but open to playing with cinematic language.' 'Those films about writers or poets often seem made for the First World—I wanted to create a version of that from the perspective of Colombia, from this tropical, complex, and unique place,' he muses. Like many Colombian filmmakers, Mesa Soto tapped the country's film fund, which he says has grown more difficult to access as filmmaking has surged in his country. 'It has grown more competitive as more projects are being made,' he observes. Luxbox handles international sales of the Swedish-Colombian-German co-production. According to Colombian Film Commissioner Silvia Echeverri, local film production has grown in spades but local box office earnings, which feeds the fund, are down so that has impacted the size of the fund. However, there are incentives for local businesses to invest in film. Drawn to the country's generous incentives led by the CINA 35% tax rebate on location shoot expenditures and the Colombia Film Fund (FFC), which provides a cash rebate covering 40% of audiovisual services expenses and 20% of logistical costs, more international projects have descended on Colombia. Among them are 'Paddington in Peru' and most recently, 'Shadow Force' with Omar Sy and Kerry Washington and 'Titan,' a Constantin Film-backed survival thriller, produced by 'Resident Evil' franchise producers Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer. 'This year, project execution is going well and is already better than it was at the same time last year. It reflects a clear rebound in the development and consolidation of projects across the country,' says Echeverri. According to promotional agency Proimágenes, an unprecedented 70+ Colombian films were released last year, but total theater admissions dropped to 45 million, down from 54 million the previous year and well below the pre-COVID peak of 73 million in 2019. Forty percent of the releases were dramas, followed by documentaries at 36%, with the remainder consisting of comedies, horror, suspense and experimental films. Reflecting this mix of genres are the films participating in Cannes this year. Aside from 'A Poet,' Colombia is present in its co-production with France and Brazil, 'Black Snake' ('La Serpiente Negra') by France's Aurélien Vernhes-Lermusiaux, which participates in ACID Cannes. Set in Colombia's arid Tatacoa Desert, 'Black Snake' follows Ciro, a young man returning home after years away. Reunited with his dying mother, he confronts a land marked by tension and danger. The film explores themes of homecoming, fragile family ties and survival in a hostile landscape. Participating in the Cannes Doc section is 'We Were a Great Family' (Spain, Colombia) by Cristina Rosselló, Chiara Marañón and Colombian director-editor Juan Soto Taborda. Produced by Catalonian-based Ricard Sales and LaCima Prods., the documentary covers the period between 1941 and 1999 in Spain. In it, the couple Miquelina, Josep, and later their son Pattet, filmed their daily lives, aiming only to preserve memories—yet their footage unwittingly captures the soul of 20th-century Spain: life under Franco, the quiet shift to democracy and a family's evolving hopes, contradictions and dreams through a passing camera. Rising Colombian talent Juanita Onzaga, a visual artist and filmmaker whose works have been presented at Directors' Fortnight, MOMA in New York, Venice and the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, directs 'Floating with Spirits,' which participates in the Cannes Immersive Selection – Focus which showcases five creations that will give festival-goers new insights into the immersive creative process. In this VR experience produced by Cassette for Timescapes, Tarantula and Studio Biarritz, Mazatec sisters Jocelynne and Jaquelyne recall their shaman grandmother's ancestral wisdom amid Oaxaca's sacred mountains. As they prepare for the Day of the Dead, spirits return through ritual and memory. Guided by nature and imagination, they unveil the secrets of four spirits, offering a call to reconnect with Indigenous wisdom and the natural world. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Epicentre Takes French Rights for Simón Mesa Soto's ‘A Poet' Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways French distribution rights for Simón Mesa Soto's 'A Poet' have been sold to Epicentre Films ahead of the film's world premiere at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section. Luxbox is handling world sales. Epicentre's Daniel Chabannes and Corentin Sénéchal said: ' 'A Poet' was an instant 'coup de coeur' for us! It is pure poetry in the service of cinema.' More from Variety The drama, shot in Medellin, Colombia, follows Oscar Restrepo, whose obsession with poetry has brought him no glory. Aging and erratic, he has succumbed to the cliché of the poet in the shadows. Meeting Yurlady, a teenage girl from humble roots, and helping her cultivate her talent brings some light to his days. But dragging her into the world of poets may not be the way. 'A Poet' is Mesa Soto's second feature film after 'Amparo,' which was presented in Cannes Critics' Week in 2021 and won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for the actor Sandra Melissa Torres. Both his short films, 'Mother' (2016) and 'Leidi' (2014), competed in Cannes and 'Leidi' won the short film Palme d'Or. The producers on 'A Poet' are Juan Sarmiento G. and Mesa Soto at Ocúltimo in Colombia; and Manuel Ruiz Montealegre at Medio de Contención Producciones in Colombia. Sarmiento G. is also the film's cinematographer. The coproducers are Katharina Bergfeld, Heino Deckert (Majade Fiction, Germany); David Herdies, Michael Krotkiewski (Momento Film, Sweden); Film I Väst (Sweden); and ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/ARTE (Germany). The cast is led by Ubeimar Rios, Rebeca Andrade and Guillermo Cardona. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Simón Mesa Soto's ‘A Poet' Boarded by Luxbox Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Sales agency Luxbox has boarded Simón Mesa Soto's 'A Poet,' which has been selected to world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes Film Festival. The drama, shot in Medellin, Colombia, follows Oscar Restrepo, whose obsession with poetry has brought him no glory. Aging and erratic, he has succumbed to the cliché of the poet in the shadows. Meeting Yurlady, a teenage girl from humble roots, and helping her cultivate her talent brings some light to his days. But dragging her into the world of poets may not be the way. More from Variety Edoardo Bussi Launches Production and Sales Company Twenty-Nine Palms Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE) Cannes Film Festival Adds Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson's 'Die, My Love' and Kristen Stewart's 'Chronology of Water' to 2025 Lineup Charlie Polinger's 'The Plague,' Starring Joel Edgerton, Boarded by AGC, Cinetic and UTA Independent Film Group Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) 'A Poet' is Soto's second feature film after 'Amparo,' which was presented at Cannes Critics' Week in 2021 and won the Louis Roedered Foundation Rising Star Award for the actress Sandra Melissa Torres. Both his short films, 'Mother' (2016) and 'Leidi' (2014) competed in Cannes and 'Leidi' won the short film Palme d'Or. The producers on 'A Poet' are Juan Sarmiento G. (Medio de Contención Producciones, Colombia); Manuel Ruiz Montealegre (Medio de Contención Producciones, Colombia); and Simón Mesa Soto (Ocúltimo, Colombia). The coproducers are Katharina Bergfeld (Majade Fiction, Germany); David Herdies (Momento Film, Sweden); Michael Krotkiewski (Momento Film/Film i Väst, Sweden); and Heino Deckert ( Fiction/ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/ARTE, Germany). The cast is led by Ubeimar Rios, Rebeca Andrade and Guillermo Cardona. Luxbox's CEO Fiorella Moretti and head of international sales Jennyfer Gautier in a joint statement said: 'We felt instantly struck by the singular vision of the director and the beauty in the film. 'A Poet' is bold, intimate, and quietly subversive. The film navigates contemporary and deeply human themes with a touch of lightness and unexpected humor. We were especially drawn to how it explores the desire to create, and how its central character finds glimmers of hope in an often unforgiving world.' Sarmiento G. said: 'Simon's vision is unique, sarcastic and uncompromising, he tackles a wide variety of subjects and is unafraid of approaching them with a sense of humor and tragedy alike. We look forward to be premiering Simon's latest work in Cannes' official selection once again.' Soto said: 'Luxbox has an amazing catalog of amazing films and they carefully handpicked just a few each year so that they can devote all their efforts to them. We want our film to be seen by many and I believe Fiorella and her team will help us reach a wider audience.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
