"Narciso" Wins Best South American Feature Film at Brazil's Bonito Cinesur Festival

Paraguayan filmmaker Marcelo Martinessi's film "Narciso" has garnered another award, this time at the Bonito Cinesur 2026 festival in Brazil. Actor Diro Romero was present to accept the Best South American Feature Film award for the production.

“

My heart is beating strongly right now, but I will try to thank everyone. I am truly taking an incredible experience from this festival.

The film competed against five other productions from Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela/Colombia, and Peru. The jury, composed of Brazilian director Dandara Ferreira, Paraguayan actor Celso Franco, and Chilean cultural manager Gabriela Sandoval, recognized "Narciso," which is loosely based on Guido Rodríguez Alcalá's novel and real events.

Romero, who stars in the film, expressed his excitement, stating, "My heart is beating strongly right now, but I will try to thank everyone. I am truly taking an incredible experience from this festival." He highlighted the importance of the festival for showcasing South American stories, adding, "It is definitely confirmed that the stories we have in South America to tell, we have so much to tell."

“

It is definitely confirmed that the stories we have in South America to tell, we have so much to tell.

He further called for collaboration among festival participants to "continue telling our stories" and form a consolidated block. "We have to get together to make this block, and this is a very important space for this block to begin to consolidate and solidify," Romero said. He concluded his remarks by thanking the festival for the recognition, "for freedom, for democracy, never again dictatorship, 'Who Killed Narciso?' for everyone."

“

We have to get together to make this block, and this is a very important space for this block to begin to consolidate and solidify.

Set in 1959, "Narciso" tells the story of Narciso, a radio host who introduced rock and roll to Asunción. As a military regime begins to take hold, Narciso becomes a symbol of freedom before his mysterious death. The film, which previously won the Fipresci critics' award at the Berlin Film Festival, is set to screen in the Horizontes Latinos competition at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain in September.

“

for freedom, for democracy, never again dictatorship, 'Who Killed Narciso?' for everyone.