Apertura Films

Founded by Abner Benaim in Panama City in 2004, Apertura Films is Panama's pioneering independent film production company specializing in fiction and documentary features. The company's films have screened at major festivals including SXSW, IDFA, and Hot Docs, and have represented Panama as the country's official Oscar submission on three separate occasions, with 'Plaza Catedral' (2021) becoming the first Panamanian film ever shortlisted for the Academy Awards. Beyond original productions, the company also provides production services for foreign shoots in Panama and produces commercials for clients including Nike, Red Bull, Diesel, Suzuki, and UNICEF.