Copyright Variety
Costa Rica will, for the first time in its history, try for nominations for both best international feature and best documentary at the Oscars. A few weeks after having selected Juan Manuel Fernández’s “The Altar Boy, The Priest, and the Gardener” as their official submission for the former category, the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica exclusively told Variety they are also submitting the film for best documentary. “This milestone reflects the strength of our storytellers,” said Laura López, CEO of the country’s promotion agency. “Costa Rica’s progressive vision, talented filmmakers, and extraordinary locations make it a powerful place for stories with purpose,” she added. “The Altar Boy, The Priest, and the Gardener” tells the story of Anthony Venegas Abarca, who, in 2018, bravely went public with accusations of child sexual abuse against ex-priest Mauricio Víquez Lizano. The case would lead to a groundbreaking 20-year prison sentence and reshape the way Costa Rican law dealt with the statute of limitations around child sexual abuse, changing the prescription date from 10 to 25 years after the victim reaches the age of majority. “This documentary has had a unique process, especially for Costa Rica, by addressing a topic that had been silenced and covered up for a long time, both by ecclesiastical authorities and the very Catholic culture in which we are immersed,” the director tells Variety. “It is worth noting that Costa Rica is one of the few countries where, by law, the State adopts the Catholic religion. This has fostered a culture of permissiveness and a systematic abuse of power by representatives of the Catholic Church.” Fernández says the “excitement” of being the first ever Costa Rican film to try for a nomination in two categories at the Oscars comes hand in hand with the “greater responsibility” of continuing their impact campaign. “The goal is to influence the different legislations in Latin America, just as happened in Costa Rica. We aspire for this legislative review to be replicated throughout the region as a first stage, and later in the rest of the world. These crimes against children can no longer be forgotten or remain unpunished.” Working on the campaign for “The Altar Boy, The Priest, and the Gardener” has not stopped Fernández from moving onto his next project, “Impermanence.” The film similarly deals with a very sensitive subject: the high rates of suicide within Indigenous communities, more specifically within the Talamanca reserve in Costa Rica. The project was shot over several years in the reserve, with the director taking the time to get to know the residents and the community. “Talamanca is one of the most important reserves in Costa Rica and also shares one of the highest rates of suicide in the country,” said the filmmaker. “I filmed with two families who have had loved ones die by suicide: a man who lost both parents to it, and a trans man who has suffered a lot of bullying because of his gender identity. It’s a really interesting place, in the middle of the jungle, and I’m looking forward to bringing this discussion to Costa Rican audiences.” “Impermanence” is a co-production between Costa Rica’s Biofilms and El Salvador’s Proart and funded by Ibermedia. The film has recently been selected for the Works in Progress showcase at Ventana Sur, taking place in Buenos Aires this December. “We hope this will provide the final push we need to complete it and release it soon,” said the director.
