Cinema Tropical Announces Best Latin American and U.S. Latinx Films of the Year: La Cocina, The Delinquents, Pepe and Sujo secure spots

Cinema Tropical, the premier presenter of Latin American cinema in the United States, has announced its annual list of the Best Latin American and U.S. Latinx Films of 2024. This year’s prestigious selection showcases 32 exceptional films—26 from across Latin America and six from U.S. Latinx filmmakers—representing a vibrant spectrum of contemporary storytelling. These films will compete for the 15th Annual Cinema Tropical Awards, with winners to be revealed on January 14, 2025, at a ceremony at Film at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The selected films span diverse genres, themes, and countries, highlighting the creative and cultural richness of Latin American cinema. Festival favorites such as La Cocina by Alonso Ruizpalacios, The Delinquents by Rodrigo Moreno, Pepe by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, and Sujo by Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero are among the contenders for top honors. The winners will be recognized in categories including Best Film, Best Non-Fiction Film, Best Director, Best First Film, and Best U.S. Latinx Film.

Spotlight on Latin American Cinema

The 26 Latin American films come from ten countries, offering a compelling look at the region’s cinematic achievements. From Brazil’s Cidade; Campo by Juliana Rojas to The Settlers / Los colonos by Chile’s Felipe Gálvez Haberle, the selection underscores the thematic and stylistic diversity of the region’s filmmaking. Notable entries also include Hurricane Season by Elisa Miller (Mexico) and The Other Son by Juan Sebastián Quebrada (Colombia/France/Argentina), showcasing narratives that resonate with global audiences while rooted in local contexts.

Cinema Tropical’s List of Best Latin American Films of 2024:

1. The Buriti Flower / Crowra by Renée Nader Mesora and João Salaviza, Brazil/Portugal
2. Cidade; Campo by Juliana Rojas, Brazil
3. The Day I Met You / O Dia Que Te Conheci by André Novais Oliveria, Brazil
4. The Delinquents / Los delincuentes by Rodrigo Moreno, Argentina
5. Eureka by Lisandro Alonso, Argentina/France/Portugal
6. The Human Surge 3 / El auge del humano 3 by Eduardo Williams, Argentina/Portugal/Netherlands/Taiwan/Brazil/Hong Kong/Sri Lanka/Peru
7. Hurricane Season / Temporada de huracanes by Elisa Miller, Mexico
8. La Cocina by Alonso Ruizpalacios, Mexico/USA
9. The Last / Los últimos by Sebastián Peña Escobar, Paraguay/Uruguay
10. Memories of a Burning Body / Memorias de un cuerpo que arde by Antonella Sudasassi, Costa Rica/Spain
11. Mixtape La Pampa by Andrés di Tella, Argentina/Chile
12. The Other Son / El otro hijo by Juan Sebastián Quebrada, Colombia/France/Argentina
13. Otro Sol by Francisco Rodríguez Teare, Chile/France/Belgium
14. Pepe by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, Dominican Republic/Namibia/Germany/France
15. Pictures of Ghosts / Retratos Fantasmas by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil
16. The Practice / La práctica by Martín Rejtman, Argentina/Chile/Portugal
17. Reas by Lola Arias, Argentina/Germany/Switzerland
18. Reinas by Klaudia Reynicke, Peru/Switzerland
19. Riders / El repartidor está en camino by Martín Rejtman, Argentina/Portugal/Venezuela
20. The Settlers / Los colonos by Felipe Gálvez Haberle, Chile/Argentina
21. Skin In Spring / La piel en primavera by Yennifer Uribe Alzate, Colombia/Chile
22. Sleep With Your Eyes Open / Dormir De Olhos Abertos by Nele Wohlatz, Brazil/Taiwan/Argentina/Germany
23. Socialist Realism / El realismo socialista by Raúl Ruiz and Valeria Sarmiento, Chile
24. Sujo by Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero, Mexico/France
25. Undefined Things / Las cosas indefinidas by María Aparicio, Argentina
26. You Burn Me / Tu me abrasas by Matías Piñeiro, Argentina/Spain

Cinema Tropical’s List of Best Latinx Films of 2024:

1. Frida by Carla Gutiérrez
2. Igualada by Juan Mejía Botero
3. The In Between by Robie Flores
4. In the Summers by Alessandra Lacorazza
5. Ponyboi by Esteban Arango
6. Skin of Glass by Denise Zmekhol

U.S. Latinx Films in the Spotlight

The six U.S. Latinx films reflect a unique cultural lens, celebrating Latinx identities and experiences within the United States. Titles like Frida by Carla Gutiérrez and The In Between by Robie Flores demonstrate the creative ingenuity of Latinx filmmakers working in diverse genres.

The winners in the Latin American cinema category will be chosen by a jury of esteemed film professionals, including Josh Gardner (AFI Silver Theatre), Milton Guillén (Camden International Film Festival), and Isabel Rojas (OaxacaCine). For the U.S. Latinx category, jurors Sabrina Avilés (CineFest Latino Boston), Eugenio del Bosque (CineFestival San Antonio), and Gabriel Magraner (The Latinx Project) will determine the best among the nominees.