Africa Unveiled as Focus Region for Alternativa Film Festival’s Fourth Edition
Runa Simi, 9-Month Contract, and A Useful Contract Scoop Awards Scoop Awards
Medellín, 30 April 2026 – Alternativa, a global and nomadic non-profit film initiative founded by international technology company inDrive, has announced the winners of the 2026 Alternativa Film Awards, revealed during the festival’s closing ceremony in Medellín, Colombia. The awards for this third edition were held at the Jardín Botánico de Medellín and brought together filmmakers, industry figures and cultural voices from across Latin America, Asia, and beyond. As part of the Alternativa Film Festival’s nomadic approach, the organisation also announced that Africa will be its next home in 2027, where the fourth edition of the festival and awards will take place.
From the 30 films selected - including 15 feature-length films and 15 shorts, spanning across 9 Latin American countries, 8 Asian countries and 18 different languages - the winners were chosen by an independent international jury of socially engaged filmmakers, led by President of the Features Jury, Colombian actor, activist and producer Natalia Reyes. The Features Jury also included Astrid Rondero (Mexico), Amanda Nell Eu (Malaysia), Juan Sarmiento G. (Colombia), and Cyril Aris (Lebanon), and the Shorts Jury comprised Consuelo Castillo (Colombia), Fernando Epstein (Uruguay) and Jessica Kiang (Germany).
The Alternativa Film Festival recognises films of artistic excellence that also address important social and cultural topics, and in doing so invite reflection and inspire positive action. Dedicated to recognising impactful filmmaking from developing industries, the 2026 edition of the festival programme included screenings, discussions and public events for broad and diverse audiences. Alongside this, the festival featured an Industry Days strand that brought together filmmakers, producers and social impact leaders from Latin America and the global stage to foster dialogue and collaboration. This edition marks the third iteration of the festival, following the previous edition held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
For the 2026 edition, the prize fund expanded to $120,000 USD (an increase of $20,000 USD from the previous edition), alongside the introduction of a new award category for a feature film from the focus region (this year being Latin America), bringing the total number of awards to seven. Collectively, these awards champion voices and stories that matter, driving meaningful conversations through cinema.
Liza Surganova, Head of Alternativa said: "We are proud to celebrate each of the winners of the 2026 Alternativa Film Festival, whose remarkable works are a brilliant reminder of how powerful cinema can be. These are films that tell timely, deeply human stories, sparking important conversations and bringing vital perspectives to the forefront. More broadly, the winners each reflect the mission of the Alternativa as we continue championing underrepresented filmmakers whose work actively drives meaningful social change. We’re proud to have brought this edition to Medellín, and look forward to continuing our journey in Africa in 2027."
The winners for the Alternativa Film Festival’s third edition are as follows:
Focus Award - Honors a film that offers insight into the complexities of the current Alternativa Focus Region. With clarity and urgency, it depicts the realities shaping the future of this part of the world.
WINNER: RUNA SIMI
Director: Augusto Zegarra
Peru, 2025
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, English
Jury Citation - “A film that deeply moved us, leaving a lasting impact through its sweet and tender portrayal of a protagonist struggling to preserve his identity, an identity that is inseparable from language. Transporting us into the landscapes of rural Peru, and honoring the Quechua culture, this moving film reminds us that life is rooted in an appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us: in nature, in family, in community, and in a boundless love for cinema. The award goes to Runa Simi by Augusto Zegarra.”
Statement given by the Jury
Spotlight Award - Highlights films that bring overlooked social issues to public attention, illuminating stories that might otherwise remain untold.
WINNER: 9-MONTH CONTRACT / ᲪᲮᲠᲐᲗᲕᲘᲐᲜᲘ ᲙᲝᲜᲢᲠᲐᲥᲢᲘ
Director: Ketevan Vashagashvili
Georgia, 2025
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Georgian
Jury Citation - “Ketevan, you took our hearts and broke them a little – this is also the power of cinema. Thank you for making us feel alive and capable of sparking a conversation about the darker side of a practice that is becoming increasingly common and normalized in today’s world. Thank you for raising awareness and speaking with deep humanity about unjust and asymmetrical power relationships, human trafficking, obstetric violence, and the complex, powerful love of a mother in a way that is as raw as it is beautiful. We can’t wait for the world to see your documentary and for this seed you’ve planted to grow.”
Statement given by the Jury
Future Voice Award - Honors emerging filmmakers whose first or second feature demonstrates a profound potential to drive change within both the film industry and society at large.
WINNER: A USEFUL GHOST / PEE CHAI DAI KA
Director: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
Thailand; Singapore; Germany; France, 2026
Genre: Dark Comedy
Languages: Thai
Jury Citation - “We, the jury, are awarding a film that is shaping a bold and future voice, with its absurdist comedy. This film enticed us with genre-bending humour and tragedy, making us feel ultimate rage about the voices that are silenced… sometimes via the noise of a passing airplane. Let’s never forget the ghosts of our past… The award goes to A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Bunboonchachoke.”
Statement given by the Jury
Alter Award - Celebrates a film that can inspire action, motivating audiences to take tangible steps toward transformation.
WINNER: CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS
Director: Sara Khaki; Mohammadreza Eyni
Iran; USA; Netherlands; Qatar; Chile; Canada, 2026
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Spanish, French
Jury Citation - “From the very first frame of this film we find Sara, a unique and brave woman determined to stand her ground no matter the consequences. The film moves fluidly as in a motorbike between moments of hope, and the harsh reality of what being a woman still means in many parts of the world. For its powerful portrayal of freedom and its unflinching reminder of the inequalities that continue to shape the lives of millions of women, the award goes to “Cutting through rocks” from directing duo Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni”
Statement given by the Jury
Nativa Award - Recognizes works that delve into national or cultural identity, showcasing stories that put regions and communities on the global map.
WINNER: LOST LAND / HÀRÀ WATAN
Director: Akio Fujimoto
Japan; France; Malaysia; Germany, 2025
Genre: Drama
Languages: Rohingya
Jury Citation - “A siblings game of hide and seek becomes a powerful metaphor for resilience and survival in a world where human life is often treated as expendable. Through the intimate and immersive perspective of two children, this films tells a story which becomes universal in its urgency, immediacy and emotional depth. The award goes to Lost Land by Akio Fujimoto.”
Statement given by the Jury
Shorts Awards - Supports the storytellers of tomorrow, who boldly forge their own paths with a strong vision for impact
WINNER: BLUE HEART / COEUR BLEU
Director: Samuel Suffren
Haiti; France, 2026
Genre: Fiction
Languages: Haitian Creole
Jury Citation - “In a burst of startling colour and imagination, we were astonished by this sudden, undeniable proof of a new filmmaking talent, whose future is as bright and vibrant as the wildly cinematic tableaux through which the story is told. Surreal slivers of imagery - telephones and sewing machines and pipe smoke curling softly into the air - spring from a place of deep love for the rich culture of the filmmaker's native Haiti, and leave us breathless, wondering how it is possible that a film about a slow death can be so full of joyful life”
Statement given by the Jury
WINNER: CASA CHICA
Director: Lau Charles
Mexico, 2025
Genre: Fiction
Languages: Spanish
Jury Citation - “Short films speak in the language of the single moment. Lau's extraordinarily complete film is a lovely act of gratitude that builds subtly yet powerfully, to one shimmering moment – a tiny gesture of connection between a brother and a sister. Showing enormous maturity and skill, not least in the amazing performances elicited from such young stars, this is also a film of quiet daring, when across one inspired edit, it seamlessly switches perspective from one sibling to the other. To make something so difficult look so effortless, and to fill it with such grace and light is a small miracle, and we award it with our whole hearts.”
Statement given by the Jury
HONOURABLE MENTION: PRESENT IN THE BIG EVENTS / PRESENTE EN LOS GRANDES EVENTOS
Director: Pamela Andrea Martinez Barrera
Panama; Venezuela; USA, 2025
Genre: Documentary
Languages: Spanish, English
Jury Citation - “In a cruel world that is getting crueler by the second, things get broken all the time, big things like governments and laws, and small things like hearts and, in this compassionate and cleverly structured film, promises. For a moving blend of archival memories and chatty, funny hangout footage that illustrates how the enormous forces of geopolitical change can impact us on the most intimate of levels, the jury awards an honorable mention to PRESENT IN THE BIG EVENTS (Presente en Los Eventos Grandes) directed by Pamela Andrea Martinez Barrera”
Statement given by the Jury
Alternativa is part of inDrive’s ongoing commitment to challenging injustice and creating opportunities for underserved communities. By spotlighting film industries that are often overlooked, Alternativa supports a new generation of filmmakers and brings their stories to wider, global audiences. Since its launch in 2023, the project has continued to grow as an international platform for impact-driven cinema, championing voices from the Global South and helping their work reach international audiences.
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About Alternativa
Alternativa is an international non-profit project launched by the global technology company inDrive in 2023. The project is designed to support and promote filmmakers from the Global South whose work has the potential to bring positive change to the world. Its mission is to amplify the international visibility of impact-driven talents and help their films reach broad and diverse audiences. By championing stories that make a difference, Alternativa bridges regional divides, empowers local communities, and contributes to meaningful social transformation.
