Los 505

Colorful portrait of a subculture on the verge of disappearing: the hot, uncomfortable school buses that for decades served as Panama’s primary form of public transportation, seen through the eyes of one of their drivers. The British filmmakers themselves gave the film its Spanish title, La fama.

Panama’s strategic geographic position has long been its greatest economic asset, with the Canal serving as the cornerstone of its development. Yet for decades, control of this vital waterway remained in the hands of a foreign power. Through interviews with residents of Panama City, Una bomba a punto de estallar (1977) captures the hopes, doubts and political sentiments surrounding the negotiation of the new treaties between Panama and the United States, offering a vivid portrait of a nation debating its sovereignty and future.

One year after the creation of the National Assembly of Community Representatives (1972), a new power structure established by the government, significant changes had taken place throughout the country. This documentary records the most important of these transformations, as well as the working methods of the Assembly. It follows the consultation tours organized by the Legislative Council, during which basic forms of grassroots organization are discussed at the community level. The film also draws a parallel between life in the countryside and in the city.

Documentary about calypso signer Lord Cobra.

Kenneth is a charismatic character whose trade is taking pictures of his neighbours in Curundú. "An almost retired criminal" and also a man with a talent for storytelling. Through Kenneth and his pictures, the documentary talks about Curundú, one of the poorest and most marginalised neighbourhoods in Panama City.

An ironic portrayal of the days of the U.S. blockade of Panama, set during the dictatorship of Manuel Antonio Noriega, just months before the country was invaded by U.S. troops.

For the first time, a painting contest is organized whose theme is the fight for Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal. A primordial experience in the country, its executors, popular artists born in the bowels of the countryside and the city, provide an enriching testimony of their lived experiences in the face of colonialism.

A musical group of young people from Viejo Veranillo perform protest songs in favor of the sovereignty of Panama. Set in 1976, a year before the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, the members of the group led by “Chirri”, vocalist and ukulele player, tell of their experiences in the neighborhood and their disagreements with the US military on the border that divided its community with the old Canal Zone.

The Nicaraguan revolutionaries, determined to overthrow the bloody dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza, enjoyed the semi-clandestine support of the Panamanian government and popular organizations from 1974 onward. Following the Sandinista Front's victory, which toppled a dynasty that had ruled for over 45 years, General Omar Torrijos visited that sister nation to strengthen ties between the two peoples.

Two years after being released from prison, a former advertising director is struggling to rebuild his life in a city that does not offer second chances. Desperate for his situation, he agrees to participate as a driver of the vehicle in what appears to be a simple bank robbery.

Claudia, a friendly and cheerful young woman, is chatting on the phone with her sister as her wedding day approaches. However, one detail is worrying her family: no one has met her fiancé yet. Claudia reassures her sister by saying that he is, without a doubt, the man of her dreams.

A documentary film crew follows Diego, a newly turned vampire who struggles to adapt with the help of his vampire roommates. Between family disputes and clashes over vampire behavior, Diego tries to get used to his new bloodthirsty life while remaining true to himself and the people he loves.