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Photography: Movie Wiñaypacha

The stunning mountains of the Peruvian Andes have not just been a beautiful setting for some of the country's most captivating movies, but they have also been crucial in shaping the stories and settings of these films. Every movie offers a distinct glimpse into life up in the Peruvian highlands.

We present to you five movies where the Andean landscapes provide the ideal backdrop for these Peruvian film stories that have garnered acclaim and awards from audiences. 

1.     Yana - Wara - Puno

Location: Beautiful natural landscape of Conduriri, province in Collao, Ilave, Puno

Oscar Catacora and Tito Catacora teamed up to direct this movie, blending drama and supernatural elements to dive deep into the heartbreaking tale of Yana-Wara, a speechless orphan girl, and her grandfather Don Evaristo. With breathtaking landscapes and a captivating storyline, the film explores themes like tradition, gender bias, and Andean cosmovision.

The highland setting sets the perfect stage for the story, giving it more depth and making it feel real. Yana-Wara gives us a special glimpse into Andean life. This movie was completely filmed in the Aymara language and in black and white.

Yana-Wara was selected as best Peruvian film at the University of Lima Film Week 2023 and received an honorable mention at the 27th Lima Film Festival.

Photography: Movie Yana-Wara

2. Wiñaypacha - Puno

Location: Apu Allincapac (Carabaya, Puno)

The movie "Wiñaypacha," directed by Oscar Catacora, takes us to the vibrant scenery of the southern Peruvian highlands. Shot in Aymara and lasting 88 minutes, it shares the touching tale of Willka and Phaxsi, an old couple residing up in the Andes, dealing with poverty and the passing of time.

Its name, which in Aymara means "forever" or "eternity," reflects the central theme of the film. The dazzling views of Apu Allincapac, located more than 5000 meters above sea level in the Carabaya mountain range, serve as the setting for a film where nature is both protective and implacable, and where connection to the land and ancestral heritage is crucial for survival.

Wiñaypacha received the awards for Best First Film and Mayahuel for Best Cinematography in the Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film category at the Guadalajara International Film Festival (Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara, FICG).

Photography: Movie Wiñaypacha

3. Vientos del Sur - Cusco

Location: District of Checacupe, southern Cusco valley.

Franco Garcia Becerra, born in Cusco, made his debut film featuring a stunning hacienda house aged over a century, serving as the main setting, alongside the breathtaking natural landscapes that grace the movie.

Nina receives an unexpected call that forces her to return to her childhood home in Cusco. Here she will be reunited with her grandfather, who is obsessed with the idea that there is a hidden family treasure in the house.

Vientos del Sur was a finalist in the Best Peruvian Feature Film category at the 2018 APRECI Awards.

Photography: Movie Vientos del Sur

4. Retablo - Huamanga, Ayacucho

Location: City of Huamanga, Ayacucho

The movie "Retablo," directed by Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio, takes us deep into the beautiful scenery of Huamanga. Filmed entirely in Quechua, it shares the tale of young Segundo Paucar and his bond with his dad, who's a retablo artist hiding a mysterious past.

The city of Huamanga, with its main square, the Triumph Arch, and other notable spots, sets the stage for this heartfelt story about family love, heritage, creativity, and selfhood. The distant landscapes vividly depict Ayacucho life, while the city itself presents a special mix that mirrors the balance between old ways and new.

Retablo received the Special Jury Prize at the Cape Town International Film Festival in South Africa. It also won the Q Golden Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Additionally, the movie was nominated for the renowned Oscar Award for Best International Feature Film in 2020 and was selected as Peru's entry for the Goya 2020 Award in the Best Ibero-American Film category.

Photography: Movie Retablo

5. Madeinusa - Huaraz, Ancash

Location: Canrey Chico, Huaraz, Ancash

The movie Madeinusa, helmed by Claudia Llosa, takes us to Huaraz province, in Ancash, where we find the made-up town of Manayaycuna, meaning "enclosed town" in Quechua. Through the story of a teenage girl named Madeinusa, we explore life in an Andean village during Holy Week.

The stunning views of Canrey Chico, located in Huaraz, provide the backdrop for this story of mystery and tradition. The Ancash area, with its towering mountains, enriches the story, taking us to a place where the mystical and the everyday blend together.

This feature film won Best Screenplay at the Havana Film Festival in 2003, as well as Best Latin American Film at the Mar de la Plata International Film Festival and the Malaga Spanish Film Festival, both in 2005.

Photography: Movie Madeinusa