The third Alternativa Film Festival concluded on April 30 in Medellín, Colombia, awarding cash prizes to five feature films and two shorts from Latin America and Asia. Peru's 'Runa Simi' won the Focus Award, while Georgia's '9-Month Contract' took the Spotlight Award. Festival head Liza Surganova announced Africa as the focus for the next edition.
Medellín, Colombia – The 3rd Alternativa Film Festival, founded by tech company inDrive, wrapped up on April 30 at the Medellín Botanical Garden. Organizers selected winners from 15 feature films and 15 shorts, each category offering $20,000 for features and $10,000 for shorts. Liza Surganova, the festival's head, highlighted the event's mission at the closing ceremony: “The winners each reflect the mission of the Alternativa as we continue championing underrepresented filmmakers whose work actively drives meaningful social change.” She also revealed plans to target Africa for the fourth edition, without specifying details yet. Jury chair Natalia Reyes praised 'Runa Simi,' directed by Augusto Zegarra from Peru, for its Focus Award: “It’s a film that deeply moved us, leaving a lasting impact through its sweet and tender portrayal of a protagonist struggling to preserve his identity, an identity that is inseparable from language.” The documentary follows radio host Fernando Valencia dubbing The Lion King into Quechua. Other feature winners included Ketevan Vashagashvili's '9-Month Contract' from Georgia for the Spotlight Award, Thailand's Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's 'A Useful Ghost' for Future Voice, Iran's 'Cutting Through Rocks' by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni for Alter, and Akio Fujimoto's 'Lost Land' for Nativa. Shorts 'Blue Heart' by Samuel Suffren and 'Casa Chica' by Lau Charles also received prizes. An honorable mention went to 'Present in the Big Events' by Pamela Andrea Martínez Barrera. The festival drew nearly 11,000 attendees and featured industry panels on impact, distribution, and global south connections from April 28-30. Surganova noted the event's growth from Kazakhstan to Indonesia and now Colombia, crediting local partners like Proimagenes and MadLove. InDrive CEO Arsen Tomsky emphasized the festival's ties to the company's social justice goals. Organizers plan a distribution arm, with talks starting at Cannes.
