Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante again captured international attention with its most recent production, Rita, which competes in the 2025 Platinum Awards. The film portrays with crudeness and sensitivity the vulnerability of childhood in Latin America, inspired by real cases, including the tragedy of the Virgen de la Asunción safe home.
Known for acclaimed tapes as Ixcanul (2015), Tremors (2019) and The Llorona (2019), Bustamante reaffirms as one of the most powerful voices of regional cinema. On this occasion, Rita It is presented as a deeply moving work, which focuses on invisible childhood and systems that have failed in their protection.
The film was made under a co -production between the production house – founded by Bustamante himself – and the American Concordia Studio, led by Davis Guggenheim, winner of the Oscar by An inconvenient truth and director of Waiting for Superman. This alliance with Hollywood marks a new step for Guatemalan cinema and for Bustamante himself.
The film, which was officially released in August 2024compete for three awards in the 12th edition of the Platinum Awards, which will be held on April 27 from Spain and will reward the best of cinema and creativity in Latin America.
What are the platinum awards?
The Platinum Cinema and Ibero -American Audiovisual Awards are annual awards that mark the closure of the film recognition season in the region. Its objective is to highlight the riskiest and most creative productions of Latin American cinema, as well as promote, disseminate and bring audiovisual culture to a global audience.
These awards were created by the Entity of Rights Management of Audiovisual Producers (EGEDA) and the Ibero -American Federation of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Producers (FIPCA). Over the years, they have established themselves as one of the most important platforms to give visibility to independent or low budget productions, which often manage to become international successes.
With a projection in more than 180 countries, the Platinum Awards have raised the prestige of Latin American cinema.
Among its winners are The Lloronaby Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante, who in 2021 obtained three statuettes: Best sound address, best photography address and best assembly address. In addition, he received two public awards: Best Ibero -American Fiction Film and Best Women’s Interpretation, awarded to Guatemalan actress María Mercedes Coroy.
In addition, Ixcanul He won the Platinum Award for Best Fiction Prima Opera In 2016.
Jayro Bustamante looking for three awards with Rita
The movie Ritadirected by Jayro Bustamante, It has become a powerful mirror that confronts Latin American societies about the violation and abandonment of childhood. Through a narrative that combines mystical fantasy with the harsh reality, the tape portrays the fragility of the institutional systems responsible for protecting the most vulnerable.
Inspired by real events – like the tragedy of the Virgen de la Asunción safe – and other cases resonated in the region, Rita It arrives at the 2025 Platinum Awards with three nominations, consolidating Bustamante’s trajectory, previously recognized by films such as Ixcanul and The Llorona.
The gala will be held in Spain where Bustamante and its team will compete in the following categories:
Best script
- Jayro Bustamante – Rita
- Eduard Sola – House in Flames
- Antonella Sudasessi Furniss – Memories of a body that burns
- Arantxa Echevarría, Amèlia Mora – The infiltrated
- Luis Ortega, Rodolfo Palacios, Fabián Casas – Jockey
Best assembly address
- Jayro Bustamante – Rita
- Victoria Lammers – The infiltrated
- Rosario Suárez, Yibrán Asaud – Jockey
- Lucrecia Gutiérrez, Tatiana Bone – The echo
Best photography address
- Inti Briones – Rita
- Javier Salmones – The infiltrated
- Edu Grau – The next room
- Rodrigo Prieto, Nico Aguilar – Pedro Páramo
Read more: “Rita” by Jayro Bustamante wins award at the Fantastic Film Festival