The Focus Paraguay section kicked off at the Festival de Málaga on Wednesday 6 March with the aim of presenting renowned films from the Latin American guest country at the 27th edition of the event. The highlight of the programme on this first day was the screening of 7 cajas (2012), a film directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schémbori.

It’s a thriller that holds the record for the highest-grossing film in the history of Paraguayan cinema, surpassing even the outstanding box-office figures of Titanic. In Cine Albéniz, the audience were witness to a plot that revolves around a young cart driver living in a hostile and competitive world, who receives a mysterious assignment to transport seven boxes in exchange for 100 dollars. A journey that involves him in a dangerous task.

The presentation was accompanied and supported by various personalities from the Paraguayan film industry, including Natalia Alvarenga (Director of Diversity), Humberto Labella (General Director of Planning), Christian Gayoso (Executive Director of INAP), as well as the country’s Minister of Culture, Adriana Ortiz, who shared some warm words with those present, expressing her pride in representing Paraguay and enjoying this bridge that Malaga has provided through the event.

After the screening of 7 cajas, a few minutes were devoted to talking about the film with its leading actress, the renowned Lali González, and its producer, Vicky Ramírez, in a discussion moderated by the writer and critic Mirito Torreiro. The latter took the opportunity to highlight the film as a Latin American project boasting one of, if not the greatest international festival coverage. Factors like 'prodigious script, fantastic production and great casting mean the film works like clockwork'.

'This film is a great example of the passion we have for making films in Paraguay', said the producer, who wanted to honour and praise the directors who were unable to travel to the Festival due to scheduling constraints. Ramírez also recalled the enormous production and financial work that went into making 7 cajas, a film that 'every Paraguayan feels is their own'.

For her part, the leading actress spoke in depth about the 'fledgling film industry' that has been able to develop in recent years. She also recalled how while acting seemed like a game at the beginning, it soon became her passion: 'The magic of cinema is its ability to break down and abolish all kinds of borders', González remarked on the film’s great global projection.