Akababuru: Expression of Astonishment

Akababuru: Expresión de asombro


Irati Dojura Landa Yagarí · Colombia · 2025 · 13 min


SHORTS COMPETITION · FAMILY 12+

Kari is an Embera indigenous girl afraid to laugh. One day she meets Kera, a young mestizo girl, who decides to tell her the myth of Kiraparamia, a woman who according to the elders was punished by the gods for laughing at her husband, but Kera reinterprets the myth and tells her that in reality Kiraparamia's laughter set her free. This story greatly inspires little Kari who decides to confront the children who oppress her and her friends by using laughter. Akababuru seeks to give a twist to the patriarchal interpretation of an Embera mythological character through childhood and sisterhood.



Hybrid · Drama, Fantasy · 12+
Language: Embera Chamí
Themes: Indigenous, female empowerment, children



Screenplay: Irati Dojura Landa Yagarí
Producers: Laura Giraldo Mira, SentARTE, Irati Dojura Landa Yagarí
Executive Producer: Laura Giraldo Mira
Cinematographer: Laura Rave Escalante


Key cast: Heluney Nerio Niaza, Wayra Andrea Aguilar Tascón, Escolástica Yagarí Gónzalez, Kipara Niaza

Director's Statement

With Akababuru, I hope to challenge harmful stereotypes and social norms that affect indigenous women by reframing cultural narratives and showcasing how sorority, strength, and laughter are tools for liberation. The film also highlights the richness of Embera Chamí culture, demonstrating the power of our ancestral stories when they are reinterpreted to reflect a more inclusive and progressive worldview. I want the film to inspire indigenous youth to reclaim their cultural identity and create new stories of empowerment. — Irati Dojura Landa Yagarí