The Shadow of the Sun (film)

The Shadow of the Sun (Spanish: La sombra del sol) is a 2023 Venezuelan-American drama film directed, co-produced and edited by Miguel Ángel Ferrer who co-wrote with Guillermo de la Rosa.[1] It stars Carlos Manuel González, Anyelo López, Greisy Mena, Jeizer Ruiz, Richard Clark, David Olaves, Camila Curtis and Pedro Alonso.[2] It is about two brothers, one of whom is deaf, who sign up for a musical contest where the deaf brother will be able to fulfill his dream through his brother's voice.[3]

This article is about the 2023 film. For other uses, see Shadow of the Sun (disambiguation).
The Shadow of the Sun
Promotional release poster
Directed byMiguel Ángel Ferrer
Written byMiguel Ángel Ferrer
Guillermo de la Rosa
Produced byMiguel Ángel Ferrer
Maritza Carbajal
Álvar Carretero de la Fuente
Hector Manrique Diguida
María Alejandra Guerrero Rocca
Wil Romero
StarringCarlos Manuel González
Anyelo López
Greisy Mena
Jeizer Ruiz
Richard Clark
David Olaves
Camila Curtis
Pedro Alonso
CinematographyJose Duque
Edited byMiguel Ángel Ferrer
Music bySandro Morales Santoro
Production
companies
Magic Films
Multi Studios
Release dates
June 4, 2023 (LALIFF)
October 5, 2023 (Caracas)
Running time
98 minutes
CountriesVenezuela
United States
LanguagesSpanish
Venezuelan Sign Language

It was selected as the Venezuelan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[4]

Synopsis

Alex is a young deaf man who asks Leo, his older brother, to accompany him in a musical competition. Through his brother's voice, Alex will have the possibility of fulfilling his dream, although it will be a challenge that will test his skills, his capacity for perseverance and resilience in a society not suitable for inclusion.[5]

Cast
  • Carlos Manuel González as Leo
    • Kenny Montoya as Young Leo
  • Anyelo López as Alex
  • Greisy Mena as Yolanda
  • Jeizer Ruiz as Brayian
  • Richard Clark as Bimbin
  • David Olaves as Lucky
  • Camila Curtis as Tita
  • Pedro Alonso

Production

Principal photography took place in Caracas and Acarigua, Venezuela, in 2022.[6][7]

Release

The Shadow of the Sun had its world premiere on June 4, 2023, at the 22nd Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival,[8] then screened on July 10, 2023, at the 19th Venezuelan Film Festival,[9] on September 23, 2023, at the 12th Georgia Latino International Film Festival[10] and at the beginning of October at the 19th Monterrey Film Festival.[11]

It will have a limited theatrical release on October 5, 2023, in Venezuelan theaters,[12] and then have a wider theatrical release in December of the same year.[13]

Reception

After its debut at LALIFF, The Shadow of the Sun won five awards at the Venezuelan Film Festival in Mérida, along with two additional awards at the Georgia Latino Film Festival.[14] The film was recognized as the Best Latin American feature at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Monterrey.[15]

The film was selected as the Venezuelan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[4] Diego Vicentini, director of the film Simón released the same year, stated that he was disappointed that his film was not chosen, arguing that Simón had the merits to be a candidate and denounced irregularities during the selection process, declaring that he and his team received reports that part of the selection committee, traditionally made up of members of the Venezuelan filmmakers' guild, consisted of unknown persons this year. The reports also described the debate as irregular, with a block of members unwilling to listen to arguments in favor of Simón and even silencing someone who wanted to speak in favor of the film. In addition, the committee included Ray Ugencio, first assistant director of The Shadow of the Sun, creating a conflict of interest.[16][17] The president of the selection committee, Ignacio Castillo Cottin, has reaffirmed the decision taken by the committee.[18]

Accolades
Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2023 Venezuelan Film Festival Press Award - Best Fiction Feature Film The Shadow of the Sun Won [19]
Best First Feature Won
Best Actor Carlos Manuel González Won
Best Supporting Actor Anyelo López Won
Best Sound Design Enrique Diaz Won
Georgia Latino International Film Festival Best International Feature The Shadow of the Sun Won [20]
Best Director Miguel Ángel Ferrer Won
FIC Monterrey 2023 Best Latin American Feature Film La Sombra del Sol

(The Shadow of the Sun)

 Won [21]

See also

References
  1. "Película venezolana 'La Sombra del Sol' se estrena en Hollywood". Estampas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ""La Sombra del Sol" representará a Venezuela en la carrera por el Oscar Internacional" [Shadow of the Sun" will represent Venezuela in the race for the International Oscar]. Noticine. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. "Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Lineup Announced By Edward James Olmos". Laft USA News. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. "La Sombra del Sol de Miguel Ángel Ferrer rumbo a los Premios Oscar". Qué Pasa (in Spanish). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  5. "Película venezolana "La Sombra del Sol" se estrena en Hollywood - Sumando Negocios" (in Spanish). 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  6. "Película venezolana "La Sombra del Sol" se estrena en Hollywood". La Voz (in Spanish). 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  7. "The shadow of the sun left Acarigua for the world". Últimas Noticas. 2023-08-10. Archived from the original on 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  8. "Película venezolana "La Sombra del Sol" estrena en Hollywood". CiudadCCS. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  9. "Festival del Cine Venezolano anuncia 24 largometrajes y 48 cortometrajes en competencia". Analítica (in Spanish). 2023-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  10. "ATLANTA! We're happy to announce we are an OFFICIAL SELECTION of the Georgia Latino International FIlm Festival". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  11. Fuente, Anna Marie de la (2023-09-11). "Mexico's Monterrey Film Festival Unveils Lineup, New International Ambitions (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  12. "La Sombra del Sol nominada al Óscar por Venezuela". Sumarium. 2023-10-02. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  13. "La sombra del sol buscará nominación al Oscar por Venezuela". El Miope (in Spanish). 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  14. ""La Sombra del Sol" se alzó con más premios en el Festival de Cine Venezolano 2023 - Impacto Venezuela" (in Spanish). 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. "A BETTER WORLD and THE SHADOW OF THE SUN Awarded at FICMonterrey". Cinema Tropical. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  16. B, Andreína (2023-09-29). "Director de la película Simón denunció irregularidades en el proceso de selección a los Premios Oscar". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  17. Zambrano, Francisco (2023-09-29). ""Simón" quedó fuera del Oscar y denuncian irregularidades en selección de película que representará a Venezuela". Runrunes. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  18. Sánchez Amaya, Humberto (7 October 2023). "La sombra del sol, la venezolanidad en una película". Crónica Uno. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  19. Leon, Leo (2023-07-14). ""Simón" y "La Sombra del Sol" se alzaron como Mejores Películas en el FCV 2023". Comunicación Continua (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  20. "¿Estás dudando si sumarte a nuestra aventura🧐?". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  21. "Winners 2023 – Monterrey Film Festival". Retrieved 2023-10-06.
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