Bolivian film wins four awards at Lions of Fire Film Festival

The Bolivian short film “Renace” (“Rebirth”) won four awards at the 5th International Film Festival "Leones de Fuego" ("Lions of Fire"), held in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The film won the Best National Short Film category and was also recognised for Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Soundtrack.

“Un Ultimo Gesto d’Amore”, directed by Enrico Pollari, was named Best International Short Film. The top prize in the One Shot Rally competition went to “Locura de Amor” (“Madness of Love”) by Team ESCA, a creative team from a Bolivian institute.

In other categories of the national competition, the awards were distributed as follows: “Trigo Viejo” won Best Editing, “Lupita” received Best Production Design, and “Mezquinos” won Best Screenplay. Svet Mena was named Best Actress, Jonathan Peralta Best Actor, and Yashira Jordan received the award for Best Director. The Audience Award, determined by open voting, went to the film “Osezno”.

“For me, taking part in the Leones de Fuego Festival was a turning point – it changed my understanding of what it means to be a filmmaker. Cinema is not only about shooting films: it is also about people who care just as much as you do about what you are creating. This is my second festival as a participant, and compared with last year, the standard of the works has risen dramatically,” said Anghelo Nicolay, director of “Renace”.

Director of the film “Dragón” Yashira Jordan praised the organisation of the festival and its role in promoting Bolivian cinema.

“Taking part in Leones de Fuego Festival was a valuable experience for us. We are very proud to have been selected for the competition programme and to have met new directors who are only beginning their journey. The organisation of the festival is of the highest standard, and the team is highly professional and attentive to all participants. Most importantly, it helps promote and popularise Bolivian cinema, which is currently developing rapidly,” she said.

The national competition featured 14 works by Bolivian directors. The international competition included films from Argentina, Peru, Mexico and Italy. In 2026, the festival held a special One Shot Rally section for the first time: teams were given seven days to create a short film with the effect of a continuous shot.

The TV BRICS International Media Network became the festival's international media partner for the second consecutive year.

The Leones de Fuego Festival was founded in 2022 to promote, screen and provide professional recognition for cinematic works. Since its establishment, it has expanded its programme and the geographical reach of its participants, introduced national and international categories, and launched initiatives to support educational and experimental projects.