INVASION,  Abner Benaim's documentary  about the country's collective memory of the 1989 US invasion, has been chosen as Panama’s candidate for Oscar nomination in the Foreign Language Film category.

This is the first time Panama has submitted a film to the Academy Awards, a natural result of the growth the Panamanian film industry has experienced in recent years after a new film law came into effect in 2002 New production subsidies, cash rebates on foreign shoots, the Panama International Film Festival, the new Meets Latin American Co-Production Forum, and the Platinum Ibero-American Film Awards have now redesigned Central America's film industry scene, Placing Panama at the top of it, says The Hollywood Reporter

Certainly Benaim's been a part of That evolution, since his Chance film - - beat James Cameron's worldwide hit Avatar at the box office at the time of Its premiere in 2009.

Invasion, Benaim's third film, won Best Documentary Both the Audience Award and the MasterCard Central America and Caribbean Panama Audience Award at the film festival.

The film dives into the US invasion of Panama in 1989 ,deployed in order to extract Gen. Manuel Noriega. Using no archive footage Benaim instead focuses on ordinary people's memories of the military intrusion, In which a still undetermined number of Panamanian citizens were killed.

As of September 25, the film, is running  in movie theaters across the country.

It is seen as part of an attempt to start a national debate on such an important event in the history of Panama, Invasion has also opened a call for schools across the country to take their children to the movie, an promotional  prices have been promised to encourage  group discussions.

Says Abner Benaim: “Through conversations with people who lived through the invasion the film shares experiences of this historic moment already a forgotten memory for  many Panamanians and for young people is almost an unknown fact.. The film is an exercise in historical memory, I wanted to hunt as if it were an archaeologist specific moments of the invasion remembered for characters who were deeply impacted by the invasion, from politicians, members of the extinct Defense Forces and ordinary people to Ruben Blades, Roberto Duran, and General Noriega

December 2014 marks the 25^th anniversary of the ninvasion years and this is the first documentary made in Panama on the subject.

“The film will be particularly frightening for those who lived in Panama since 1989 as it collects testimonies that have not been made ​​public by any other means. For younger people, the film aims to incorporate these memories to their own and open a space in the collective imagination.” says a press release from the film maker. Invasion - looking for a Hollywood Oscar
INVASION, Abner Benaim's documentary about the country's collective memory of the 1989 US invasion, has been chosen as Panama’s candidate for Oscar nomination in the Foreign Language Film category.
This is the first time Panama has submitted a film to the Academy Awards, a natural result of the growth the Panamanian film industry has experienced in recent years after a new film law came into effect in 2002 New production subsidies, cash rebates on foreign shoots, the Panama International Film Festival, the new Meets Latin American Co-Production Forum, and the Platinum Ibero-American Film Awards have now redesigned Central America's film industry scene, Placing Panama at the top of it, says The Hollywood Reporter
Certainly Benaim's been a part of That evolution, since his Chance film - - beat James Cameron's worldwide hit Avatar at the box office at the time of Its premiere in 2009.
Invasion, Benaim's third film, won Best Documentary Both the Audience Award and the MasterCard Central America and Caribbean Panama Audience Award at the film festival.
The film dives into the US invasion of Panama in 1989 ,deployed in order to extract Gen. Manuel Noriega. Using no archive footage Benaim instead focuses on ordinary people's memories of the military intrusion, In which a still undetermined number of Panamanian citizens were killed.
As of September 25, the film, is running in movie theaters across the country.
It is seen as part of an attempt to start a national debate on such an important event in the history of Panama, Invasion has also opened a call for schools across the country to take their children to the movie, an promotional prices have been promised to encourage group discussions.
Says Abner Benaim: “Through conversations with people who lived through the invasion the film shares experiences of this historic moment already a forgotten memory for many Panamanians and for young people is almost an unknown fact.. The film is an exercise in historical memory, I wanted to hunt as if it were an archaeologist specific moments of the invasion remembered for characters who were deeply impacted by the invasion, from politicians, members of the extinct Defense Forces and ordinary people to Ruben Blades, Roberto Duran, and General Noriega
December 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the ninvasion years and this is the first documentary made in Panama on the subject.
“The film will be particularly frightening for those who lived in Panama since 1989 as it collects testimonies that have not been made public by any other means. For younger people, the film aims to incorporate these memories to their own and open a space in the collective imagination.” says a press release from the film maker.