Documentary film Vino la Noche has been selected to represent Peru in the preselection race for the 2027 Oscar and Goya awards. The Ministry of Culture announced the decision on August 28 following a vote by an independent industry committee.
The debut feature by director Paolo Tizón will compete for a slot in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. It will also seek a nomination for Best Ibero-American Film at the 41st Goya Awards in Spain.
An independent selection panel made up of film industry specialists chosen by Peruvian cinematic guilds and associations evaluated the entries before casting their votes. Production company Cinesol Films must now complete the formal submission process with both academies ahead of the preselection announcements in December.
Military Recruits in the VRAEM Region
Vino la Noche follows young volunteers who enlist in the Armed Forces of Peru with hopes of joining specialized units deployed to the Valley of the Rivers Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro, a region known as the VRAEM.
The documentary uses personal testimonies and training footage to examine the physical demands of military life and the close bonds that develop among recruits during their instruction.
The VRAEM is a valley region in southern Peru where government troops operate against illegal drug trafficking networks and lingering insurgent groups.
Festival Success and Industry Reaction
The film opened in Peruvian movie theaters on November 13, 2025, following an international festival tour. It held its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where it won the Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award.
Tizón also earned the Silver Biznaga for best director at the Malaga Film Festival in Spain. The documentary was subsequently featured at international screenings, including a showing at the historic Babylon cinema in Berlin, Germany.
Karlovy Vary is one of Central Europe's oldest film festivals, while the Malaga festival serves as a major showcase for Spanish and Ibero-American cinema.
The decision to put forward a non-fiction film has drawn attention within Peruvian cinema circles. Film specialist Maykoll Calderón called the choice a risky move, explaining that documentary features typically encounter greater difficulty reaching the final nomination stages of major international awards.
Calderón also questioned the level of financial investment available to fund the film's promotional campaign abroad. Despite those concerns, the candidate enters the competition backed by strong festival honors and critical recognition as it awaits the shortlist results in December.
