Punta del Este Film Festival Opens in Uruguay

The Brazilian film "João, O Maestro,'' by Mauro Lima, inaugurates today the 21st edition of Punta del Este International Film Festival, in Uruguay, where over 50 national and foreign films will be screened.

With the award for the career of filmmaker Silvio Caiozzi in the Sala Cantegril, this film festival will begin, which will run until February 25.

The festival, considered the most important of its kind in the country and among the best in South America, will show productions from the region and Spain, as well as proposals from Japan, South Korea, Palestine and the independent cinema of the United States, among other nations.

In addition to the world cinema productions, 12 films will be in the Ibero-American Competition and for the first time 'Maldonado Filma' will be presented, according to the schedule announced by the organizing committee.

This initiative will show a dozen audiovisuals made in the homonymous department of the southeast of the country that were chosen by the Audiovisual Incentive Fund of the Municipality and were finalists in the 48th Film Festival.

The Filmusic Fest, in its third edition, will display productions about the lives of music personalities, which include films such as Vinicius, Yo Sandro y Chavela this year.

As in previous days, the Festival of Punta del Este will deliver the 'Mauricio Litman' awards in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Audience Award.

The festival of celluloid will reach other cities in the territory such as Piriapolis and Aigua, among others, the organizing authorities said.

Argentine actor Miguel Angel Sola will be one of the guests of a week film event and will present the film "El último traje."

This event has the support of the Ministry of Tourism and is linked to other festivals such as Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis, Rosario, Gramado, and is part of the strategy for the development of the audiovisual industry in Uruguay.