Utama

by Alejandro Loayza Grisi

Synopsis

logline

In the Bolivian highlands, an elderly Quechua couple has been living the same daily routine for years. When an uncommonly long drought threatens their entire way of life, Virginio and Sisa face the dilemma of resisting or being defeated by the passage of time.

With the arrival of their grandson Clever, the three of them will face, each in their own way, the environment, the necessity for change, and the meaning of life itself.

 

Specifications

Bolivia/Uruguay/France  2022  87mn  2.39:1  Quechua & Spanish  1st Feature Film

Directed by

Alejandro Loayza Grisi

Produced by

Santiago Loayza Grisi (Alma Films) & Federico Moreira (La Mayor Cine)

In Coproduction with

Alpha Violet Production

Cast

José Calcina (Virginio)

Santos Choque (Clever)

Luisa Quispe (Sisa)

Crew

Barbara Alvarez, Cinematographer

Fernando Epstein, Editor

Biofilmo

Alejandro Loayza Grisi (1985) is a Bolivian filmmaker. He began his artistic career in still photography and entered the world of cinema through cinematography. Attracted by the stories that can be told through images, he ventured into writing and directing during the preparation of his first feature film Utama.

Aicha, 2019, (DOP), Dochera, 2018, (DOP), Polvo,2017, (DOP), Planeta Bolivia, 2016, (DOP)

Festivals

Sundance Film Festival – World Drama- GRAND JURY PRIZE

Göteborg Film Festival – Ingmar Bergman Competition

Festival de Malaga- Best Ibero American Film/ Best Direction/ Jury Prize/ Best Original Music  

Cinelatino Bergen- Opening Film

Cartagena International Film Festival- Fictions from there 

Vilnius Film Festival- Panorama 

CinéLatino Rencontres de Toulouse- PRIX LYCEEN DE LA FICTION

Istanbul Film Festival- Young Masters 

Seattle Film Festival- Ibero American Cinema 

San Franciso Film Festival- International Narratives

Milwaukee Film Festival- Worldviews/ Cine sin Fronteras 

Cyprus Film Days- Best Film/ Audience Award

Minneapolis St Paul Film Festival- Cine Latino

Blue Mountain Film Festival

Sydney International Film Festival- Official Competition & shortlisted for Sustainable Future Award 

Costa Rica International Film Festival- Panorama

Festival Internacional de Guadalajara- Hollywood Press Association Award / Best screenplay/ Best First Film

Midnight Sun Film Festival- Gems of New Cinema 

Transilvania International Film Festival- Top Prize/ Audience Award 

Fest New Films New Directors Portugal- Honorable Mention Cinematography 

FilmFest München- International Independents 

Taipei International Film Festival- International New Talent Competition 

Skip City Film Festival- Special Jury Prize

New Horizons Film Festival- Discoveries 

Melbourne International Film Festival- Latin America

World Cinema Amsterdam- Jury Award & Audience Award 

Festival de Cine de Lima- GALAS 

Beijing International Film Festival – Best Supporting Actor

Hong Kong International Film Festival – Firebird Awards 

First Peoples Festival – Grand Prix Teueikan

UTAMA is the Official BOLIVIAN ENTRY for the Oscar®

Film by the Sea – Panorama 

BFI London – Journey 

Busan International Film Festival- World Cinema

Vancouver International Film Festival

CineBH International Film Festival- Mostra Continente 

International Film Fest Gent- Official Selection 

Haifa Film Festival- Golden Anchor Competition 

Cairo International Film Festival- Official Selection 

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Best of Fest

Film Fra Sor- New Voices Competition 

FIC VIÑA – Best Fiction Feature Film

QCinema International Film Festival- New Horizons

UTAMA is nominated for the GOYA in the Ibero American section

CINE LIBRE Festival Iberoamericano de Quito – Mejor Pelicula Panorama Iberoamericano 

Bastau International Film Festival – Best Film Award 

Joburg Film Festival

Kerala Film Festival – Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film Award


2023

PREMIO PLATINO 2023 – Best Cinematography, Barbara Alvarez, Best original score Cergio Prudencio

Festival de Cine Global de Santo Domingo – Opera Prima Ficción “Jimmy Sierra” 

Pune International Film Festival – Global Cinema

Kottayam International Film Festival

Sofia International Film Festival

Festival de Cine Latinoamericano Lenguas Originarias

Bengaluru International Film Festival

Festival de Cine de Chilcovoy- Best Feature Film Award 

Sprouts Film Festival – Eco Competition 

Seoul International Eco Film Festival- SPECIAL JURY AWARD 

REVIEWS

VARIETY Peter Debruge  “BREATHTAKING”, “SUBLIME, QUIETLY ELEGIAC”

DEADLINE  Todd McCarthy  “EXTRAORDINARY”,  “IT ‘S A FEAST”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Jordan Mintzer “BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED”

SCREEN INTERNATIONAL Wendy Ide “VISUALLY ARRESTING LOVE STORY FROM BOLIVIA”

INDIEWIRE Carlos Aguilar “VISUALLY STUNNING”

With the support of