For the first time, the International Federation of FIlm Critics (FIPRESCI) will present a prize for the best film presented our Stories from Central America and The Caribbean Showcase, featured in the International Film Festival’s Eighth Edition, which will be held from April 4 to 10, 2019.

Established in 1930 in Brussels, the FIPRESCI prize is one of the most prestigious awards offered by the major film festivals worldwide: Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and San Sebastian have the award, which is given by film critics and serves to bring relevance to the winning film and promote, in this way, the seventh art.

“It is an amazing achievement for IFF Panamá to be able to count on such an important award, most importantly because it makes the region’s cinema more noticeable. Obtaining the FIPRESCI Critics award in Panama gives the winning film much more oportunities in its journey around the world,” said Pituka Ortega, executive director of IFF Panama.

“This demonstrates the meaningful growth that the festival has had in recent years, all around the world. Panama is opening spaces in the international cinema scene and recognitions like this one confirm that we are arduously working in the right direction,” Ortega stressed.

FIPRESCI is composed of film critics from all over the world, film journalists and journalists belonging to film associations of the countries that make it up.

Three international critics will be the jury that will be in charge of selecting the winning film among the participants of the Stories from Central America and The Caribbean Showcase.