Grand Prix
Documentary Short
Director
Lea Vidotto Labastie
Director · Writer · Documentary Filmmaker
Lea Vidotto Labastie (1998) is an Italian-French filmmaker and documentary director, born in France and raised in Italy. Before dedicating herself to film directing, she studied political science at Sciences Po Bordeaux in France, with periods of research and training in Colombia and Senegal.
She graduated in documentary directing from the International School of Film and Television (EICTV) in Cuba. In the same year, she was selected for the advanced directing course created by Marco Bellocchio, where she worked on a film directed by Francesca Comencini.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Artistic, Literary and Cultural Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid, where she is developing a research-creation project on conscientious objection in relation to access to abortion rights.
The Film
In a colonial house in the center of Havana, Malelo is trying to legalize the inheritance of the home left to him by María Antonia, a bourgeois-born neighbor without descendants whom he cared for over decades. The documents he has are expired, and bureaucratic obstacles force him to start all over again.
Back home, the outside world remains shut out, and Malelo moves around like a guest who has not yet fully recognized himself as the owner. He welcomes neighbors who come in, chat, and rest. They talk about María Antonia, about her free life in times that didn’t allow it, and about the privileges of her family before the Revolution. An intimate portrait of an island that is increasingly isolated, where everyday hardships are faced by staying together.
"Este cortometraje alimenta esta hambre de cercanía al mismo tiempo que la sacia."
— Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena, FICCI
Official stills — Los Peces No Se Ahogan
Trailer
Awards & Festival Circuit
Recognition
Awards
International Grand Prize
Curta Cinema — Festival Internacional de Curtas do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Oscar Qualifying
Astoria Prize
Edera Film Festival, Treviso, Italy
Best Documentary
Visionova Film Festival, Rome, Italy
Best Documentary
Omega Centauri Film Festival, Rome, Italy
Audience Award
Abitare il vuoto Film Festival, Rome, Italy
Official Selections
- Libero Bizzarri San Benedetto del Tronto, ItalyWorld Premiere
- Como Short Film Festival — Corto Botanico Como, Italy
- Abitare il vuoto Film Festival Rome, Italy
- Giuseppe Sebesta Prize San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Visionova Film Festival Rome, Italy
- Coimbra Docs Coimbra, PortugalInternational Premiere
- Curta Cinema Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBrazilian Premiere
- FICCI Cartagena de Indias, ColombiaColombian Premiere
- Festival Internazionale della Cinematografia Sociale Tulipani di Seta Nera Rome, Italy
- Cinema d’iDEA
- San Francisco Docs San Francisco, USAUS Premiere
- Nusca Film Festival Venice, Italy
- ShorTS Maremetraggio Trieste, Italy
- Edera Film Festival Treviso, Italy
- Omega Centauri Film Festival Rome, Italy