The 46th Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema opens this Thursday with the Argentine film “Belén.” Selected to represent the country in the Best Picture category at the 2026 Oscars and Goya Awards.
Directed by Dolores Fonzi, the film is inspired by the true story of a woman imprisoned for a miscarriage, and her defense attorney who fights for her freedom with the support of thousands of women and organizations. Who unite to change the course of events.
Meanwhile the screenplay for this feature film was adapted from the novel “Somos Belén” (2019) by Ana Correa, and stars Fonzi, Camila Pláate, Laura Paredes, and Julieta Cardinali. It premiered on September 18th, 2025, in Argentine cinemas.
Julieta, a young woman from Tucumán, arrives at the hospital with severe abdominal pain and is arrested by the police while under anesthesia.
The authorities accuse her of inducing an abortion, and she is taken to court. Her case is taken on by lawyer Soledad Deza, who will do everything possible to prove Julieta’s innocence.
During the trial, they encounter a conservative judicial system. Meanwhile, thanks to the strategy of her legal team, Julieta’s story begins to gain traction in the national media and is supported by the feminist movement.
Also the newspaper La Nación gave the film four out of five stars, arguing that “Belén has humor, confidently establishes its narrative development, avoids simplistic black-and-white thinking when presenting contradictions, and culminates in an epic ending. That, in retrospect, is seen as key to later achievements.”
Futhermore for his part, Pablo O. Scholz of Clarín highlighted that Belén has a more classic approach. Comparable to certain courtroom dramas, and shares common ground with Santiago Mitre’s “Argentina, 1985” (2022).
Clarín also emphasized that the film is told from a place of indignation. Employing the best techniques and consistently convincing performances.
The 46th Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema opens its doors today at 6:00 p.m. local time at the Chaplin Cinema. The venue that hosts the opening of Cuba’s largest film event each year.
With information from Prensa Latina
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