Venezuela announced today that the highly acclaimed drama, Dauna. Lo que lleva el río (Gone with the River) by Cuban filmmaker Mario Crespo will be its official entry to compete in the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year’s Academy Awards.
Dauna premiered in the NATIVe section at the Berlin International Film Festival back in February. This sidebar focuses on films that tell the stories of the indigenous people of the region.
The film follows Dauna, a young Warao woman, who is at a crossroads in her life. She is divided between the ancient traditions of her people and the hope of becoming something greater outside of her community. The clash between modernity and tradition, and the role of women within this society are themes at the center of the narrative. The film was shot on location in Venezuela’s Orinoco Delta region where the Warao people have lived for thousands of years.
Last year, Venezuela proudly selected the Simon Bolivar film The Liberator, starring Edgar Ramírez and directed by Alberto Arvelo, to compete in the Best Foreign Language category. The project made the 9-film shortlist out of 83 submissions, it did not make the final five nominees.
The Academy will release a shortlist in December and the final five nominees will be announced in January 2016.
