Simon of the Mountain

Simón de la Montaña

TIFF65: Greek Premiere
The film that won the Grand Prize at the Critics’ Week of the latest Cannes Film Festival crafts a universe of stark contrasts and humble materials, offering an intimate reflection on faith, adolescence, strength, and identity. We are introduced to 21-year-old Simon, a personal assistant for people with disabilities, who confesses he doesn’t know how to make his bed or cook, twitches nervously, and is about to join a group – a special needs school in Argentina embarking on a pilgrimage to a remote statue of Christ in the desolate countryside. By the time the film reaches its conclusion, audiences will be on the edge of their seats, constantly re-evaluating who Simon really is and what fate awaits him as he steps out of his comfort zone. Subtle yet profound, this film is a quiet homage to Luis Buñuel’s Simon of the Desert, echoing its initial journey through barren landscapes toward a monument of faith and endurance. With non-professional actors (except for the remarkable lead), the film follows the human form with reverence and meticulous framing, reaching a level of transcendence as one of the most daring and original works of this decade.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Federico Luis
Script: Federico Luis, Tomás Murphy, Agustín Toscano
Cinematography: Marcos Hastrup
Editing: Tomás Murphy, Andrés Medina
Sound: Martin Blay
Actors: Lorenzo Ferro, Pehuén Pedre, Kiara Supini, Laura Nevole, Agustín Toscano, Camila Hirane
Production: 20/20
Producers: Patricio Alvarez Casado
Co-production: Planta, Mother Superior, 1230 Media
Costumes: Paula Ruiz Abalos
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay
Production Year: 2024
Duration: 98'
Contact: Luxbox
Awards/Distinctions: Grand Prize (Semaine de la Critique) – Cannes 2024, Jury Prize for Best Film, Jury Prize for Best Actor (Latin American Fiction Competition) – Lima IFF 2024, CineVision Award – Filmfest Munich 2024

Federico Luis

Federico Luis is a filmmaker born in Buenos Aires in 1990. He studied Social Communication Sciences at the UBA (University of Buenos Aires). His short film La Siesta had its international premiere at the Official Short Film Competition of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It was also distinguished with an Honorable Mention in TIFF’s Shortcuts (Toronto Film Festival) and won best short film at the 2019 BAFICI (Buenos Aires Film Festival). In 2023, in Amsterdam, he received the award for best short film at IDFA with At That Very Moment. Stay Still or I Love You was recognized as the best short film of the Mar Del Plata International Film Festival. During the same year, he shot his first feature film: Simón de la Montaña.

Filmography

2019 La Siesta (short)
2023 Stay Still or I Love You (short)
2023 At That Very Moment (short)
2024 Simon of the Mountain