"Zafari"

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Image courtesy of LATcinema Fest.

Zafari, Mariana Rondón, Marité Ugas (Venezuela, 2024)

At a small zoo, neighbors from opposing social classes celebrate the arrival of Zafari the hippopotamus. Ana, Edgar and their son Bruno watch from the window of their decaying upper-class building. Amid food, water and light shortages, Ana collects food in abandoned apartments, while the family looks for a way to escape. But strange sounds in the hallways frighten her. In an increasingly wild world, Zafari is the only one who still has food.

“The animal that gives the film its title brings together seemingly irreconcilable strangers and pushes them to reevaluate their moral boundaries, exposing the fragility of social class and social customs in the face of extreme hardship.” —Ena Alvarado January, Americas Quarterly.

“Mariana Rondón presents us with a dystopian story set in a semi-abandoned zoo in a city reminiscent of Caracas, in a metaphor for the decadent reality of today's Venezuelan society." —Roberto Oggiano, Cineuropa.

A film in the 2025 edition of LATcinema Fest. All films are screened in original version without subtitles. General admission is €6 per film, or you can buy a pass for four films for €20.

Spring Film Festivals in Barcelona

Barcelona boasts a wide variety of renowned film festivals each spring, and 2025 promises to be another spectacular edition. Check out our article Spring Film Festivals in Barcelona where you'll discover festivals dedicated to fashion docs, films inspired by literature and history, astounding cinematic works that delve into the creativity, mystery and resilience of the human brain and films that explore the LGBTIQ+ experience.

For more events check our online events calendar.