Festival Internacional de Cine de Santa Cruz (FENAVID)
Bolivia's most important film festival, held annually in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, presenting Bolivian and Latin American cinema in South America's most commercially dynamic Bolivian city.
Overview
FENAVID is Bolivia's most important film festival. Founded in 2003 and held annually in Santa Cruz de la Sierra -- Bolivia's largest city and its economic capital, in the tropical lowlands east of the Andes -- the festival presents Bolivian and Latin American cinema and supports the development of Bolivian filmmaking.
Bolivia has one of the most diverse film traditions in South America, with filmmakers addressing the country's extraordinary cultural plurality -- including Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, and dozens of other Indigenous communities alongside its mestizo and criollo populations. The festival provides a platform that reflects this diversity.
Santa Cruz's tropical, commercially minded character distinguishes the festival from the high-altitude Andean culture of La Paz and provides access to Bolivia's growing business and middle class.
Key Sections
- Bolivian Film Competition -- new Bolivian features and shorts
- Latin American Competition -- films from across the region
- International Program -- curated international films
- Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
- Indigenous Film Section -- films by and about Bolivia's Indigenous communities
What Filmmakers Should Know
FENAVID accepts open submissions. For Bolivian filmmakers, this is the most important domestic platform. The Indigenous film section creates a specific context for films addressing Bolivia's extraordinary cultural diversity.
Major Awards
- Best Bolivian Film -- jury prize
- Best Latin American Film
- Audience Award
Festival History
FENAVID was founded in 2003 and has operated as Bolivia's primary film festival.
See Also
For Andean cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
