AFF 2026 opens in Medellín, Colombia

The 3rd Alternativa Film Festival opened in Medellín with an evening that felt less like a formal premiere and more like a shared beginning. At the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM)—the festival’s main venue—audiences gathered for Belén, directed by Dolores Fonzi and recently awarded Best Ibero-American Film at the 2026 Goya Awards. On stage, Liza Surganova, Head of Alternativa; Natalya Pylaeva, Program Director; and Natalia Reyes, Features Jury President, welcomed a room that reflected the festival’s spirit—local and international, emerging and established.

Among the audience were international guests from across the film community: filmmakers in this year’s program, Selection Committee members, and industry professionals. They were joined by prominent Colombian figures such as Marcela Mar, actress; Víctor Gaviria, director; and Juan Sarmiento, cinematographer and member of the Features Jury—alongside a full local audience, reaffirming Medellín’s strong appetite for cinema with human and social depth. As the screening ended, the evening continued in the garden, where guests gathered for a cocktail with music.

Over the next ten days, Medellín becomes a meeting point for impact cinema from the Global South, with screenings, discussions, and conversations that extend beyond the screen.