Cinema of Venezuela
Encyclopedia
Venezuelan cinema dates back to the late nineteenth century, but has never enjoyed the success of some other Latin American cinema. Recent years have seen Secuestro Express
(2005), which was distributed internationally by Miramax, and El Caracazo
(2005), a costly historical film about the Caracazo
of 1989. Villa del Cine
, a large state-owned TV and film studio, was opened in 2006. Venezuela produces between ten and fifteen full-length films each year.
Landmarks of Venezuelan cinema include the 1959 documentary Araya
, by Margot Benacerraf
, the 1976 Soy un delincuente by Clemente de la Cerda
(which earned more at the box office than Jaws) and the 1977 film El Pez que Fuma
, by Román Chalbaud. Araya was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival
, where it shared the Cannes International Critics Prize with Alain Renais's Hiroshima, Mon Amour. 1985's Oriana won Fina Torres
the Caméra d'Or Prize
at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival
as the best first feature.
Venezuela has entered films for consideration as nominees for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
since 1978. In the first two decades, none of its submissions were nominated for the award.
Secuestro express
Secuestro Express is a 2005 Venezuelan crime film directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz and starring Mía Maestro, Jean Paul Leroux and Rubén Blades...
(2005), which was distributed internationally by Miramax, and El Caracazo
El Caracazo (film)
El Caracazo is 2005 Venezuelan historical film that deals with the events of El Caracazo on 27 February 1989 in and around Caracas. It was produced and directed by the long-time Venezuelan filmmaker Roman Chalbaud.-Synopsis:...
(2005), a costly historical film about the Caracazo
Caracazo
The Caracazo or sacudón is the name given to the wave of protests, riots and looting and ensuing massacre that occurred on 27 February 1989 in the Venezuelan capital Caracas and surrounding towns. The riots — the worst in Venezuelan history — resulted in a death toll of anywhere between...
of 1989. Villa del Cine
Villa del Cine
Fundación Villa del Cine is a state-owned Venezuelan film and TV studio that was inaugurated on 3 June 2006 by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez in the city of Guarenas, near the capital Caracas....
, a large state-owned TV and film studio, was opened in 2006. Venezuela produces between ten and fifteen full-length films each year.
Landmarks of Venezuelan cinema include the 1959 documentary Araya
Araya (film)
Araya is a 1959 Venezuelan-French documentary film directed by Margot Benacerraf and co-written by Benacerraf and Pierre Seghers.- Story :Araya: a peninsula jutting into the Caribbean off northern Venezuela...
, by Margot Benacerraf
Margot Benacerraf
Margot Benacerraf is a Venezuelan director born in the city of Caracas. Benacerraf studied at IDHEC in Paris. Her two most well-known films are the documentaries Reverón and Araya. Reverón illustrates the life of the well-known Venezuelan painter Armando Reverón...
, the 1976 Soy un delincuente by Clemente de la Cerda
Clemente de la Cerda
Clemente de la Cerda was a film director in Venezuela.He directed one of the highest grossing Venezuelan films, Soy un delincuente , in 1976....
(which earned more at the box office than Jaws) and the 1977 film El Pez que Fuma
El Pez que Fuma
Considered by many to represent a peak in Venezuelan film-making, El Pez que Fuma is the name of a brothel in La Guaira, where the story takes place...
, by Román Chalbaud. Araya was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival
1959 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Marcel Achard *Antoni Bohdziewicz *Michael Cacoyannis *Carlos Cuenca *Pierre Daninos *Julien Duvivier *Max Favalelli *Gene Kelly *Carlo Ponti *Micheline Presle...
, where it shared the Cannes International Critics Prize with Alain Renais's Hiroshima, Mon Amour. 1985's Oriana won Fina Torres
Fina Torres
Fina Torres is a Venezuelan film director. Born in Caracas, she became known by winning la Caméra d'Or award at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival with her directorial debut film, Oriana. She studied design, photography and journalism in Venezuela and later on film at the Institut des hautes études...
the Caméra d'Or Prize
Caméra d'Or
The Caméra d'Or is an award of the Cannes Film Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections ....
at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival
1985 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Miloš Forman *Claude Imbert *Edwin Zbonek *Francis Veber *Jorge Amado *Mauro Bolognini *Michel Perez *Mo Rothmann *Néstor Almendros *Sarah Miles...
as the best first feature.
Venezuela has entered films for consideration as nominees for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
since 1978. In the first two decades, none of its submissions were nominated for the award.