Panama will send "Birthday Boy" to the Oscars

by Nathaniel R

Panama is fairly new to the Oscar game. They've been submitting since 2014 and last year they got close to a nomination for the first time with a finalist spot for Abner Benaim's Plaza Catedral. This year they're submitting Cumpleañero (or Birthday Boy) starring Albi De Abreu. While we don't yet know what it's about (though those of you who know Spanish can see the trailer here) the Spanish-language poster (to the right) is very intriguing with its upside down solo figure in the waves above group joy and it's tagline "Suffering is not an option." This is the second submission for Panama from director Arturo Montenegro after the trans drama Everybody Changes (2019). He's now tied with Abner Benaim as the most often submitted Panamanian director.

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