Zafari (film)

Zafari
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMariana Rondón
Written byMariana Rondón
Marité Ugás
Produced byJorge Hernandez Aldana
Juliette Lepoutre
Pierre Menahem
Giancarlo Nasi
Sterlyn Ramírez
Mariana Rondón
Rafael Sampaio
Marité Ugas
Cristina Velasco
StarringDaniela Ramírez
Francisco Denis
Samantha Castillo
CinematographyAlfredo Altamirano
Edited byIsabela Monteiro de Castro
Music byPauchi Sasaki
Production
companies
Sudaca Films
Paloma Negra Films
Still Moving
Klaxon Cultura Audiovisual
Don Quijote Films
Selene Films
Artefactos S.F
Release dates
  • September 22, 2024 (2024-09-22) (Zinemaldia)
  • August 28, 2025 (2025-08-28) (Peru)
  • September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04) (Venezuela & Chile)
Running time
100 minutes
CountriesVenezuela
Peru
Mexico
France
Chile
Dominican Republic
Brazil
LanguageSpanish

Zafari is a 2024 dystopian black comedy-drama film[1] co-written, co-produced and directed by Mariana Rondón.[2] It stars Daniela Ramírez, Francisco Denis and Samantha Castillo. The film follows an upper-class family who witness the arrival of a hippopotamus named Zafari, who is the only one with enough food, while they are starving.[3] It is an international co-production between Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, France, Chile, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.[4]

Synopsis

The neighbors witness the arrival of the hippopotamus Zafari at a small zoo. Ana, Edgar, and their son Bruno watch the operation from the windows of their decaying luxury building, now in ruins. Amidst the lack of food, water, and electricity, the family tries to solve everyday problems while thinking of a way to escape. In a world gone wild, Zafari is the only one who still has enough to eat.[5]

Cast

Production

Principal photography took place on location in Lima, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.[6][7]

Release

The film had its world premiere on September 22, 2024, at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival,[8] then screened on October 27, 2024, at the 48th São Paulo International Film Festival,[9] on March 19, 2025, at the 4th LATcinema Fest,[10] on March 22, 2025, at the 39th Fribourg International Film Festival,[11] on March 23, 2025, at the 37th Toulouse Latin America Film Festival,[12] on July 21, 2025, at the 14th Aegean Film Festival,[13] on August 8, 2025, at the 29th Lima Film Festival,[14] and on August 19, 2025, at the 21st Santiago International Film Festival.[15]

The film was commercially released on August 28, 2025, in Peruvian theaters,[16] and on September 4 of the same year in Venezuelan and Chilean theaters.[17]

Accolades

Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2024 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival Horizontes Latinos Award Zafari Nominated [18][19]
33rd Biarritz Film Festival FBAL Award for Feature Film from the French Union of Film Critics Won [20]
29th International Film Festival of Kerala Best International Film Nominated [7][21]
2025 39th Fribourg International Film Festival Grand Prix Nominated [22][23]
42nd Munich International Film Festival CineRebels Award Nominated [24][25]
29th Lima Film Festival Trophy Spondylus Nominated [26][27]
21st Santiago International Film Festival Chilean Film Competition - Best Film Nominated [28][29]
Special Mention for Best Film Won
Best Performance Daniela Ramírez Won

References

  1. ^ ""ZAFARI", la nueva película de Mariana Rondón, se estrena el 28 de agosto en cines de Lima y regiones". Lima Va. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  2. ^ "Zafari: la fábula distópica que estrena en Perú con elenco internacional". Revista Zoom (in Spanish). 2025-08-13. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  3. ^ "Zafari la nueva película de Mariana Rondón en el Festival de Cine de San Sebastián". Lima Gris (in Spanish). 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  4. ^ García, Cynthia. "LatAm premiere: Mariana Rondón, directora de "Zafari"". LatAm cinema. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  5. ^ "Trailer para Zafari de Mariana Rondón". Cine maldito (in Spanish). 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  6. ^ "EXCLUSIVA: Póster de Zafari, de Mariana Rondón". Cineuropa (in Spanish). 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  7. ^ a b "'Zafari', de la venezolana Mariana Rondón, en la competición internacional del Festival de Kerala, en la India". Programa Ibermedia (in European Spanish). 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  8. ^ Rodríguez, Sulay (2024-09-24). "Estreno de "Zafari" en el Festival de San Sebastián". RDE Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  9. ^ "Zafari". 49ª Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  10. ^ "Zafari | LATcinema Fest 2025". Casa Amèrica Catalunya. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  11. ^ "Zafari". Festival International du Film de Fribourg. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  12. ^ "Zafari". Cinélatino (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  13. ^ "Schedule". Aegean Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  14. ^ "Zafari". Lima Film Festival.
  15. ^ "Zafari". Santiago International Film Festival (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  16. ^ "Película ZAFARI se estrena el 28 de agosto en Lima y Regiones Cuenta Artes Revista digital cultural". Cuenta Artes (in Spanish). 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  17. ^ Bustos, Victoria (2025-08-22). "SANFIC 21 Crítica de cine "Zafari": La bestia que vive en nosotros". Culturizarte (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  18. ^ "José Luis Torres Leiva inaugurará Horizontes Latinos y Celina Murga clausurará la sección en la que participan cineastas como Lola Arias, Juliana Rojas, Luis Ortega, Astrid Rondero y Fernanda Valadez, Mariana Rondón o Salvador del Solar". San Sebastian International Film Festival. 8 August 2024.
  19. ^ Tabbara, Mona (8 August 2024). "Sundance winner 'Sujo' among San Sebastian's Horizontes Latinos selection". ScreenDaily.
  20. ^ "Mariana Rondón: Provengo de un país en el que uno va a votar y no tiene ni resultados". El Nacional (in Spanish). 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  21. ^ "28th IFFK Award Winners". International Film Festival of Kerala. Archived from the original on 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  22. ^ "Program - By Section | International Competition: Long Films". Festival International du Film de Fribourg. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  23. ^ "Lauréats - Award winners 2025". Festival International du Film de Fribourg. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  24. ^ "Filmfest München unveils its full programme". Cineuropa. 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  25. ^ "Announcing the award-winners of the 42nd Munich International Film Festival!". Filmfest München. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  26. ^ "Toda la programación del Festival de Cine de Lima 2025". Escribiendo Cine (in Spanish). 24 July 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  27. ^ "¡Estos son los ganadores del 29 Festival de Cine de Lima PUCP!"". festivaldelima.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  28. ^ "SANFIC21 da a conocer programación oficial que se exhibirá en salas de cine de la Región Metropolitana". El Ciudadano (in Spanish). July 30, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  29. ^ "Todos los ganadores del SANFIC 2025". EscribiendoCine (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-01.
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