Cuban film wins at PampaDocFest documentary festival in Argentina

The winner of the 5th International Documentary Film Festival PampaDocFest in the "Best Feature-Length Documentary" category was "To the West, in Zapata" by Cuban director David Bim. The festival was held for the fifth time in Argentina’s La Pampa province. Films selected for participation focus on contemporary social, cultural, environmental and political issues.

The winning film tells the story of a family living in a nature reserve, where each day is a struggle for survival. For the sake of their sick child, the parents resort to a dangerous livelihood in the surrounding swamps.

The jury highlighted the film’s austere black-and-white aesthetic and its ability to convey the complexity of life in harsh conditions. "The film 'To the West, in Zapata' is distinguished by its narrative mastery, cinematography and sound design, which together create an immersive experience imbued with a contemplation of time: the time of labour, the time of movement and the time of waiting. With remarkable aesthetic and ethical sensitivity, the film brings the viewer closer to the life of a family inhabiting a world far removed from urban centres, revealing the expressive power of cinema when it operates with precision, respect and depth,” the jury’s statement reads.

Photo: Cristobal Basaure and More Gomez

Director David Bim thanked the organisers for the opportunity to present this deeply personal film, which took ten years to make.

“First of all, allow me to thank you [the organisers] from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity that the PampaDocFest festival has given us – the opportunity to present this deeply personal film. It represents ten years of work, ten years of filming. Throughout this long journey, I had only my camera and my protagonists by my side. Perhaps these shoots are what I have done in my life with the greatest sincerity, tenderness and love. For me, cinema is not only my profession, not only the art of filmmaking. It is also teaching – a process that inspires me greatly,” the director shared.

In the “Best Documentary on Rural Life” category, the Brazilian film "Mukuna, Apprentice of a Shaman" by director Rodrigo Sena won. The jury highly praised the cinematography and the issues raised in the film regarding the preservation of ancestral heritage and the protection of natural resources.

In total, according to the organisers, more than 500 submissions from over 40 countries were received for the festival. Audiences saw films from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala. The programme also included educational seminars and masterclasses.

Photo: Cristobal Basaure and More Gomez

Screenings have been held in the province since 2020. The festival’s main objective is to integrate Argentina’s regions into the international film community and promote their cultural potential. Its important social function is also noted. The TV BRICS International Media Network acted as an information partner of the event.

“If anything has ultimately cemented the success of PampaDocFest this year, it is the extensive network of strategic partnerships that allows the festival to grow confidently while remaining close to people and accessible. Thanks to cooperation with TV BRICS, the festival has reached an entirely new level of visibility. An event held in a small southern town in Argentina’s La Pampa has now entered the field of vision of global media outlets within the network. Materials about the festival will be distributed through international channels and included in broadcast schedules. Such a partnership ensures that the key moments of the three-day film festival will resonate in the world’s major languages,” the official festival website states.