Peru has announced the indigenous psychological drama Yana-Wara as the country’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. The film was co-directed by Tito Catacora and the late Óscar Catacora, who passed away during production. The sibling filmmaking duo previously worked on the acclaimed 2017 film Wiñaypacha.
Yana-Wara premiered at the Lima Film Festival last year and was released theatrically in Peru this past April. It tells the story of Don Evaristo, who stands accused by the Communal Justice System of murdering his 13-year-old granddaughter, Yana-Wara. During the hearing, the tragic story of the girl unfolds, revealing how, after enduring gender violence, she began experiencing terrifying visions brought on by evil spirits from the forbidden places of the Andes.
In addition to its Oscar campaign, the film is also competing for Best Ibero-American Film at the 2025 Goya Awards in Spain. Yana-Wara marks Peru’s 31st submission to the Academy Awards, with the country receiving its only nomination in 2009 for Claudia Llosa’s The Milk of Sorrow /La teta asustada.
