Panama, July 15, 2025. - Today, the winners of the 8 categories of the national contest Fondo Cine, corresponding to 2024, have been announced with 111 projects as eligible. The contest was established by law 16 of April 27, 2012 with the aim of promoting film activity in Panama. It has a budget of 2.3 million dollars that are awarded for credit.

Of the 111 proposals, 16 films of fiction and animation were received, 16 documentaries, 2 in post production category, 53 projects in development, 7 projects in co-production of fiction, 3 projects in co-production of documentary and 10 projects in development of series, all were sent to the qualifying jury that was formed by a well-known group of international filmmakers.

The Minister of Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, said that the ministry, through the film department, has been entrusted with the responsibility of building a platform for Panama to be put as an audiovisual reference point in the region, capable of production works that represent us with different audiences, in commercial cinema rooms, international festivals and global platforms.

"We are committed to the professionalism of our industry, generating jobs in the extensive production chain of cinema. To all the participants of this contest, our sincere recognition and admiration, his projects are a tangible proof that Panamanian cinema is growing with great force and vision to project itself throughout the world," stated Minister Herrera.

For her part, Vice-Minister of Culture Arianne Benedetti commented that receiving this support is a commitment because every production represents our country. "Jobs that travel and open jobs doors and films that represent us, show what Panama means," concluded Benedetti.

For her part, the director of the National Cinema Board, Sheila González, emphasized that "as established by the regulatory bases of the contest, the Jury delibero virtual, and acted at all times with complete autonomy and independence in his decisions." He used to thank the contestants and the Jury for their participation.

The 2024 winners are:
In the category Series Development, A World in a Coffee Jawsuit by Francisco Hernández Spano and Arpia by Jean Paul Visuette and A Too Strange Case by the Leaf Foundation of Bijao, submitted by César Garrido. Each project became a credit of $20,000.

In Project Development: Christian Bradford's Porcelain Flowers; One more of these Men, from Ana Elena Tejera and Teratoma, from Amine Ayoub. Each project receives $15,000.

In Documentary Production: The Sons of Ivan by Victor Kham and Mali by Carlos García de Paredes and Just'Cuz by Enrique Castro Ríos. Each project receives $100,000 in this category.

A minor co-production for Documentaries: The History of Motowa by Aramida Films, represented by Nadyezda Adames and with 25 thousand dollars.

At Opera Prima: Menorquidad de Jairo Ramos who receives 300 thousand dollars for his project.

In Panamanian minority co-production for Fictional feature films: Amor es una monster de Mente pública S.A., represented by Isabella Gálvez, with an endowment of 75 thousand.

To feature fiction: Victory at Isabella Gálvez's Nuba and A Star about Rodrigo Quintero's Volcano and Abner Benaim's Simple Life. Each project receives $500,000.

In the category of support for after production of fiction or animation feature and after production documentaries, the Jury determined that the two projects they applied did not have the necessary merits to be awarded them the prize.

The qualifying jury was composed of filmmakers with an important and extensive track record, such as Laura Amelia Guzmán (Dominican Republic), elisa Marina Sepúlveda Ruddoff (Chile), María Ester Bernal Quezada (Mexico), Paola Castillo Errant (Chile), Mariana Murillo (Costa Rica), Sandra Beatriz Gugliotta (Argentina), Mariana José Delgado (Puerto Rico), María Soledad Fernández Velasco (Argentina), Emiliano Mazza de Luca (Mexico).