Latin American distributor Cineplex has acquired the regional rights for the Indigenous eco-thriller “The Cry of Serankwa” (“El grito de Serankwa”), following its triple-award-winning run at the Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic) WIP Iberoamericana section. The sophomore feature is directed by Colombian multi-hyphenate Yull Núñez, whose extensive credits include starring in Ciro Guerra’s “The Wind Journeys” and working on “Birds of Passage.” Films focusing on Colombian Indigenous communities remain rare on the cinematic landscape, and Núñez's latest project aims to match the scale and ambition of those previous large-scale productions.
Set within the sacred territories of the Iku, Wiwa, Kogui, and Kankwamo communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the drama primarily uses the Iku language. The narrative follows two friends from the Indigenous Iku tribe, Marcelo and Aníbal, as they train to become spiritual leaders known as Mamus to protect Mother Earth from human destruction, particularly corporate mining operations. After failing his training, Aníbal departs for the city, returning years later as a mining firm engineer who threatens his home village and his relationship with Marcelo, the newly appointed guardian of the Sierra. Serankwa represents the deity of these Indigenous populations.
Elba McAllister of Cineplex expressed strong enthusiasm for the narrative, noting its authentic look at ancestral traditions and modern environmental challenges. The company plans to release the picture, anticipating significant conversation upon its launch. Director Núñez, a creator of Afro-Colombian descent from the Caribbean coast, began developing the script in 2017, drawing on childhood visits with his father to the region. The production involved a 40-day shoot inside the remote, isolated mountain village of Nabuzimake, utilizing mostly natural actors who completed a three-month acting workshop. Núñez has consistently centered environmental themes in his work, as seen in his Havana Film Festival debut “The Palafite’s Silence” and his upcoming development project “The Mystery of the Guatapuri.” Read more about similar independent releases by exploring our dedicated Movie section.
