To the West, in Zapata
| To the West, in Zapata | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Al oeste, en Zapata | |
| Directed by | David Bim |
| Written by | David Bim |
| Cinematography | David Bim |
| Edited by | David Bim |
Production company | Ventú Productions |
Release date |
|
| Countries | Cuba Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
To the West, in Zapata (Spanish: Al oeste, en Zapata) is a 2025 documentary film directed, photographed and edited by David Bim.[1]
A Cuba–Spain co-production, the film follows a family living in the Zapata wetlands of Cuba during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Plot
To the West, in Zapata follows people living in the Zapata Peninsula of Cuba and examines their lives and experiences in the region. The film focuses on the area's communities, landscape and social realities.
Cast
- Orlando “Landi” García as Landi
- Mercedes Morejón as Mercedes
- Deinis García as Deinis
Production
To the West, in Zapata is a 2025 Cuba–Spain documentary film directed, written, photographed and edited by David Bim.[3] The film was produced by Lía Rodríguez and David Bim, with Ventú Productions serving as the production company.[4][5] The project was developed through the ParisDOC Works-in-Progress programme, where it was presented as a Cuba–Spain production by Ventú Productions.[6]
Release
To the West, in Zapata premiered at Visions du Réel in Switzerland from 4 to 13 April 2025.[7] Following its premiere, the film was screened at several international film festivals, including Docs Against Gravity Film Festival in Poland, Subversive Film Festival in Croatia, Filmfest München in Germany, the Guanajuato International Film Festival in Mexico, Festival de Cine de Lima in Peru and DokuFest in Kosovo.[8]
In 2026, the film was also screened at the Portland EcoFilm Festival in the United States and at Film Festival Oostende in Belgium.[9]
Reception
To the West, in Zapata received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed towards its observational filmmaking, black-and-white cinematography and portrayal of survival and family life in rural Cuba.[10][11]
Sofia Topi of The People's Movies awarded the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising its immersive cinematography and sensitive portrayal of its subjects.[12]
Debanjan Dhar of High on Films praised the film's depiction of vulnerability, loneliness and economic hardship, describing it as a portrait of the resilience of its central family.[13]
Awards
| Year | Festival | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Visions du Réel | Special Jury Award | Won |
| 2025 | Visions du Réel | International Critics' Award – FIPRESCI Award[14] | Won |
| 2025 | Filmfest München | CineVision Award | Won |
| 2025 | Guanajuato International Film Festival | Best Feature Documentary[15] | Won |
| 2025 | Kolkata International Film Festival | Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Film[16][17] | Won |
| 2025 | Kolkata International Film Festival | FIPRESCI Award[18] | Won |
| 2026 | Zsigmond Vilmos Film Festival | Main Award for Best Cinematography | Won |
| 2026 | Zsigmond Vilmos Film Festival | Student Jury Special Mention | Won |
References
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata - Trailer". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata — Al Oeste, En Zapata". dokufest.com. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ Sandoval, Pablo (2025-11-25). "Gijón Film Festival Gives Major Awards to Ben Whishaw, Argentina's Lisandro Alonso and Cuba's David Bim". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata". Tirana International Film Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "'Porshi', 'To the West in Zapata' bag top honours at KIFF 2025". Telegraph India. 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "Selection ParisDOC". Cinéma du réel Archives. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Visions du Réel 2025 - FIPRESCI | The International Federation of Film Critics". Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata". Square Eyes. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata". Portland EcoFilm Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "'To The West, In Zapata' review: Life on the extremes in pandemic-era Cuba". Screen Daily. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Adams, Mark (14 April 2025). "Visions du Reel Burning Lights review: To The West, In Zapata by David Bim". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "To The West, In Zapata Review (Visions du Réel Festival 2025)". The People's Movies. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata (Al Oeste, en Zapata, 2025) 'Visions du Réel' Movie Review". High on Films. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "56th Visions du Réel International Film Festival". FIPRESCI. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "To the West, in Zapata". Square Eyes. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "KIFF concludes: Cuban film bags Best Film trophy, Best Director award goes to Sri Lanka". The Indian Express. 2025-11-14. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Sri Lankan film 'Riverstone' wins best Director at KIFF". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "31st KIFF ends with a surprise CM visit and creative-economy message". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-08-21.