Winners Announced at the Grand Closing of LUSCA Film Fest 2024
San Juan, Puerto Rico – The 18th edition of the LUSCA Film Fest concluded with a spectacular awards ceremony, honoring the excellence of filmmakers from Puerto Rico and around the world. Held from October 17 to 23 at Caribbean Cinemas, Plaza Guaynabo, the festival served as a prominent platform for filmmakers to share their stories with an enthusiastic audience.
This year’s theme of Extraterrestrial Contact infused the festival with an otherworldly energy, with many films exploring themes of the unknown and the cosmos. One of the highlights was the Echoes Of the Stars project, an innovative collaboration between Akochema and local musicians who used cosmic signals to compose mesmerizing electronic music. This project captivated audiences and provided a perfect complement to the festival’s extraterrestrial theme.
"The LUSCA Film Fest continues to provide a vital platform for both local and international filmmakers, fostering creative expression and offering an inclusive space for storytellers from diverse backgrounds. This year’s incredible selection reflects our commitment to showcasing talent from around the world while celebrating the richness of Puerto Rican cinema. We’re proud to see the festival evolve into a cultural hub for filmmakers and audiences alike," said Zoilo Rodríguez, Director of LUSCA Film Fest.
The winners announced at the closing ceremony are as follows:
Main Categories:
Best Local Feature: El Episodio – Samari Vega
Best Local Feature Director: Bryan Ferrer for Entre las Vías: La Historia del Tren en PR
Best International Feature: A Samurai in Time – Junichi Yasuda (Japan)
Best International Director: Diego Felipe Guzmán for The Other Shape (Colombia)
Best Feature Female Director: Samari Vega - El Episodio
Local Short Categories:
Best Local Director: Adriana González-Vega for Carpeteo
Best Local Actor: Brian Rittenhouse for Cheo
Best Local Actress: Anoushka Medina for Carpeteo
Best Local Action Short: Trapo Sucio: A Mofongo Western - Jordan Santacana
Best Local Experimental & Documental Short: La Sombra también Siente - Cecilia Argüelles, Vance McLean Ball
Best Local Horror & Thriller Short: El Jacho: A Puerto Rican Urban Legend – Adrián Borges
Best Local Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short: Cheo – Cristian O. Santiago Rodríguez
Best Local Dark Comedy Short: La Espera – Samara Pérez Santiago
Best Local Drama Short: Arranca – Liliana M. Molina
Best Local Short Editing: Alejandro Orengo - El Jacho: A Puerto Rican Urban Legend
Best Local Short Cinematography: Jowy J. Santiago for La Sombra del Testigo
Best Local Short SFX: Adrián Borges - El Jacho: A Puerto Rican Urban Legend
Best Local Short Sound: Gabriel J. Morales Sánchez - Surrender
Local Short Audience Award: El Jacho: Una Leyenda Puertorriqueña – Adrián Borges
International Short Categories:
Best International Horror & Thriller Short: Uninvited – Ekaterina Ganzhela (Russia)
Best International Dark Comedy: Bastardi Buon Natale - Stefano Surricchio, Matteo Giannetti, Alessio Orlandi, Francesco Esposito, Leonardo Di Andrea (Italy)
Best International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short: Sincopat – Sandra Forn (Spain)
Best International Short Director: Victoria Warmerdam for I'm Not a Robot (Netherlands)
International Short Audience Award: Apotemnofilia – Jano Pita (Spain)
Animation Categories:
Best Local Animation Short: Sirens? - Alanis I. Morales Aponte
Local Animation Short Audience Award: Crushed - Angelee Santiago Marrero
Best International Animation Short: World Naked Bike Tour – William Bradford (Canada)
Music Video Categories:
Best Intl. Music Video: I Wanna Run – Geoffroy Virgery (France)
Best Local Music Video: Caída – Raymond O’Brien
Music Video Audience Award: 12AM – Michael Justiniano
Script Contest:
Local Script: 1st place "The Woman", 2nd place "Gamma13", 3rd place "Labor Circumstance"
International Script: 1st Place “The Red Horse's Horseman”, 2nd Pace “Hot Questions”, 3rd Place “Avon For Men”
The evening also featured the exciting Phantom of London Sweepstakes, won by Jaime Pesquera, who will enjoy a trip to see The Phantom of the Opera in London.
In addition to the awards, the festival offered a variety of special events, including insightful workshops and interactive screenings. The volunteers were instrumental to the success of the festival, and the event’s sponsors played a crucial role in making this year’s edition possible.
