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Rita (2024 Guatemalan film)

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Rita
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJayro Bustamante
Written byJayro Bustamante
Produced byJayro Bustamante
Jonathan King
Gustavo Matheu
StarringGiuliana Santa Cruz
CinematographyInti Briones
Edited byJayro Bustamante
Gustavo Matheu
Music byPascual Reyes
Production
companies
Concordia Studio
La Casa de Producción
Distributed byShudder (United States)
Release dates
  • July 25, 2024 (2024-07-25) (Fantasia)
  • August 8, 2024 (2024-08-08) (Guatemala)
Running time
107 minutes
CountriesGuatemala
United States
LanguageSpanish

Rita is a 2024 dark fantasy horror film written, co-produced, co-edited and directed by Jayro Bustamante.[1] It stars Giuliana Santa Cruz as a 13-year-old girl who, fleeing from her abusive father, is trapped in an apartment managed by the state from whence she plans to escape with her cellmates in a violent act.[2] It is the first feature co-produced between Guatemala and the United States.[3]

Rita had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on 25 July 2024, where it won the best Cinematography Award.[4]

Synopsis

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A 13-year-old girl named Rita manages to escape from her abusive father. She is taken in by a kind owner of a diner, where she finds solace for a time, until she is transferred to a state-run institution that is full of fantastic beings, super-powered girls who plan to destroy the witches and demons that rule the place and are waiting for her to carry out their escape plan.[5][6]

Cast

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  • Giuliana Santa Cruz as Rita[7]
  • Glendy Asturias Rucal as Gladys[7]
  • Ángela Joana Quevedo as Sulmi[7]
  • Alejandra Vásquez Carrillo as Bebé[7]
  • André Sebastián Aldana as "La Terca"[7]
  • Ernesto Molina Samperio as William
  • María Telón as Celia
  • Sabrina De La Hoz as Monitora
  • Margarita Kenéfic as Ernestina
  • Juan Pablo Olyslager as Police chief
  • Guie Cuyun as Police officer

Production

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Principal photography took place in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, lasting 3 months in Guatemala.[8]

Release

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It had its world premiere on July 25, 2024, at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival,[9] then screened on September 25, 2024, at the 25th Calgary International Film Festival,[10] and on October 5, 2024, at the 43rd Vancouver International Film Festival.[11]

It was commercially released on August 8, 2024, in Guatemalan theaters,[12][13] then was released on November 22, 2024, on Shudder.[14]

Accolades

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Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2024 28th Fantasia International Film Festival Cheval Noir - Best Film Rita Nominated [15][16]
Best Cinematography Inti Briones Won

References

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  1. ^ Cruz, Keneth (2024-08-06). "Rita, la película de Jayro Bustamante que conecta el realismo mágico, la fantasía y el horror". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  2. ^ "Rita: La historia de la niña que inspiró el personaje principal de la nueva película de Jayro Bustamante". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 2024-08-08. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  3. ^ "Rita, una película con talento guatemalteco coproducida con Hollywood". Guatemala.com (in Spanish). 2024-07-28. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  4. ^ "Rita gana premio a la mejor cinematografía Festival Internacional "Fantasía" en Montreal, Canadá". IberoNews (in Spanish). 2024-07-27. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  5. ^ Toro, David (2024-08-10). "Rita, expone la vulnerabilidad de las niñas en Centroamérica". EFE Noticias (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  6. ^ "Rita". Cinépolis (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  7. ^ a b c d e Cruz, Keneth (2024-08-26). "Glendy, Ángela, Alejandra, Giuliana y André: Las protagonistas de "Rita", la reciente película de Jayro Bustamante". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  8. ^ Mejía, Selene. "Rita, la película que muestra la oscura realidad de muchas niñas en Guatemala". Soy 502 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  9. ^ "Rita". Fantasia International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  10. ^ "Rita". Calgary International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  11. ^ "VIFF 2024: Rita". Vancouver International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  12. ^ "Rita brilla en premier oficial en Guatemala y abre sus alas". UP Relaciones Públicas (in Spanish). 2024-08-06. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  13. ^ Cruz, Keneth (2024-08-08). "Rita: Dónde ver la nueva película de Jayro Bustamante en Guatemala". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  14. ^ Grobar, Matt (2024-07-11). "Shudder Acquires Jayro Bustamante's Orphanage Fable 'Rita' Ahead Of Fantasia Film Festival Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  15. ^ Foreman, Alison (2024-07-03). "Fantasia Fest 2024 Announces Its Stellar Final Lineup with 'Ababouiné,' 'In Our Blood,' and More". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  16. ^ "Jury Awards for the 28th Edition of Fantasia". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
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