People

Abner Benaim

Project: Plaza Catedral

Previous achievements:

"INVASION" (Doc) Panama's selection to Academy Awards, 2015;

"CHANCE" (Feature) Best Script Award at Skip Festival, Japan, 2009.

Benaim studied International Relations and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and later film directing at Camera Obscura, Tel Aviv. In 2004, he founded Apertura Films, an independent production company, in his native Panama, where he is considered a pioneer filmmaker.

His first feature, "Chance" (2010), a dark comedy,  was the first film to be theatrically released in Panama in 60 years,  and was seen by over 500.000 spectators. "Invasion" (feature documentary, premiered at IDFA 2014) was Panama's first submission to the Academy Awards and it had an audience of  50,000 people in local theaters.

Benaim´s films have been selected at prestigious film festivals (SXSW, IDFA, HOTDOCS, True False, et al.)  and have won multiple awards (Berlin, Miami, Biarritz) as well as critical acclaim.

Benaim´s work deals with important  social issues and touching personal stories told in a casual, sometimes humorous and irreverent tone.