A Poet wins the Arthouse Cinema Award at Loft Film Fest 2025 • CICAE

The film A POET by Simón Mesa Soto received the Arthouse Cinema Award at the Loft Film Fest 2025 in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

The jury, formed by Francisco Javier Landin Jr (SoAZ Film, USA), Joan Parsons (Head of Culture and Arts at Queen’s University, Belfast, UK) and Irene Silvera Frischknecht (Film Curator & Access and Inclusion Consultant, Spain) stated as following:

"A Poet is a hilarious comedy led by a fascinating, yet tragic, character who is surprisingly relatable as he navigates the complicated relationships within the richness of the city of Medellín in Colombia. The young filmmaker, Simón Mesa Soto, has a clear vision for the complexities of the human experience and the culture that surrounds him. A sharp, witty and brilliantly paced film that allows audiences to discover the poetry of life in all its chaotic beauty."

Oscar Restrepo’s obsession with poetry has brought him no glory. Aging and erratic, he has succumbed to the cliché of the poet in the shadows. Meeting Yurlady, a teenage girl from humble roots, and helping her cultivate her talent brings some light to his days. But dragging her into the world of poets may not be the way.

Directed by: Simón Mesa Soto

Script: Simón Mesa Soto

Cinematographer: Juan Sarmiento G., ADFC, BVK

Art director: Camila Agudelo

Editing: Ricardo Saravia

Music: Matti Bye, Trio Ramberget

Cast: Ubeimar Ríos, Guillermo Cardona, Rebeca Andrade, Allison Correa, Margarita Soto, Humberto Restrepo

Production:

International Sales:

The CICAE Arthouse Cinema Award was conceived as an impetus for a film to have a wider recognition as a work of art and to stand as a mark of quality for exhibitors, cinema-goers, and cinephiles.