Dark Skull
Spring Grants 2016
Kiro Russo / Feature Narrative / Bolivia, Qatar / 2016 / 79 min / Colour / Original Language: Spanish / Interests: Coming of age, Drama, Docufiction
Synopsis
After his father dies, Elder is forced to live with his grandmother – far away from the city – and learn to be a worker. His godfather, Francisco, helps Elder find his place in a mining company, and the two end up working together. Elder, however, skips work daily. Francisco grudgingly endures this, and his co-workers mock him because of Elder’s behavior. They also seem to know some dark secrets about Francisco’s relationship with Elder’s deceased father – and Elder is curious to know more. When Francisco finds Elder lost in a tunnel that is about to be blasted, he leaves him there – but because Elder survives, the miners see him as good luck. When the miners have to travel far away, the conflict between Elder and Francisco unravels.
Credits
- Director
- Kiro Russo
- Screenwriter
- Kiro Russo, Gilmar Gonzales
- Producer
- Kiro Russo, Pablo Paniagua
- Production Company
- Socavon Cine
About the Director
Born in La Paz, Kiro Russo is a director and producer. Trained at FUC Buenos Aires, he directed and produced three short films which got significant exposure on the festivals circuit. In 2016, Kiro completed his first feature, ‘Dark Skull’, selected at 80 festivals and winning 23 awards, including at Locarno FF. Developed with the support of writing residencies (Tabakalera, Moulin d’Andé), film markets and labs (LoboLab, Ciné Latino, BRLab, Fabrique des Cinémas, Artist with bright future), his second feature, ‘El Gran Movimiento’, was shot in La Paz and is currently in post-production. It will be completed in the first semester of 2021.
Awards and Festival History
Festivals
"Nuevas Olas IFF 2016
Las Palmas FF 2016
Viennale 2016
Mostra de Cinema Contemporâneo de Brasil 2016
Stockholm FF 2016
Ourense IFF 2016, Sección Síntomas
Pantalla Latina IFF 2016
Cinebaix IFF 2016
Lakino FF 2016
Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de
"Special Mention Award, Locarno FF 2016, Filmmakers of the Present Competition (WP)
Special Mention (Cooperación Española award), San Sebastian FF 2016, Horizontes Latinos
Best Feature Film and Grand Prize City of Lisbon, Indie Lisboa FF 2016
Special Jur