Poster for Plaza Catedral
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Plaza Catedral

Directed by

Panama, Mexico, Colombia

2021

94 min

  • Spanish
  • Drama

Alicia had a perfect life and lost it. Her 6 year old son died in an accident. Her grief is plagued by guilt. One night Chief, a streetsmart 13 year old who takes care of cars, arrives at her door bleeding from a gunshot wound, and begs her to let him inside. How far would you go to help a stranger?

Awards

  • Panama's Official Submission to the 94th Academy Awards
  • Shortlist, Best International Feature at the 94th Academy Awards
  • Best Actor Award for Fernando Xavier De Casta and Best Actress Award for Ilse Salas - Guadalajara IFF
  • Best Film Audience Award - IFF Panama

Labels & Line Ups

Credits

Cast
Ilse Salas
Fernando de Casta
Manolo Cardona
Screenplay
Abner Benaim
Cinematography
Lorenzo Hagerman
Editing
Soledad Salfate
Music
Mathew Herbert
Danilo Perez (Special Participation on Piano)
Production
APERTURA FILMS
Production
BARRACUDA FILMS
Production
BLOND INDIAN

Press

A moving story of fragile connection across social divides.

Variety

Banter between Salas and first time actor De Casta evolves organically devoid of sentimentality for a powerful two-hander.

The Wrap

Benaim has crafted a truly striking, powerful film… This one could surprise.

Awards Daily

Abner Benaim

Panama

Cinema allows us to play outside the boundaries of reason, where the only logic that matters is the internal logic of the creative process; our desires. Cinema is a magical force; as familiar as love and as elusive as the imagination itself. It’s a powerful antidote against the difficulties that come with life (and death).

Abner Benaim is a director, producer, and screenwriter who studied International Relations and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and later film directing at Camera Obscura, Tel Aviv. In 2004, he founded Apertura Films, an independent production company, in his native Panama, where he is considered a pioneer filmmaker.

He is known for CHANCE (2009), INVASION (2014), RUBEN BLADES IS NOT MY NAME (2018) and PLAZA CATEDRAL (2021). Benaim’s films have been Panama’s official selection on three occasions for the Oscars. PLAZA CATEDRAL (2021), his latest feature film, was shortlisted at the 2022 Oscars, the first time in history for a film from Panama.

Benaim’s films have been selected at prestigious film festivals such as SXSW, IDFA, HOTDOCS and True False, and have won multiple awards as well as critical acclaim. His projects have participated at Berlinale, Sundance and Jerusalem Lab.

Benaim’s work deals with social issues and touching personal stories told in an unceremonious, sometimes humorous and irreverent tone.

Selected Filmography