Paraguay has chosen “Under the Flags, the Sun” to represent the South American nation at the 2026 Academy Awards. The documentary by Paraguayan filmmaker Juanjo Pereira (31) was selected by the country’s Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences for the International Feature Film category. This achievement marks another milestone for the country’s growing cinema presence on the global stage.
The 90-minute documentary, titled “Bajo las banderas, el sol” in Spanish, premiered nationally on 18 September 2025, across Paraguay. The film examines the fragmented memories of the Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship through an experimental and poetic lens. In fact, the film is constructed entirely from audiovisual archives discovered in various countries around the world.
Under the flags, the sun wins international recognition
The documentary has already garnered significant international acclaim since its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival’s Panorama section in February 2025. At the prestigious Berlinale, “Under the Flags, the Sun” won the FIPRESCI Prize from international critics, establishing its credibility amongst global film professionals.
This initial success was followed by additional awards, including the Human Values Prize at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece. The film also received recognition at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (BAFICI) and the Lima Film Festival. The documentary’s festival journey continues with upcoming screenings at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain. There, the film will compete in the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section. Also, at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), which is considered one of the world’s most important documentary festivals.
Archive research spans multiple continents
The film’s unique approach involved extensive research across eleven countries. Director Pereira spent over 80 hours investigating and reviewing archival materials from Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, France, and Germany. He also searched archives in Japan, Taiwan, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Belgium to gather essential materials. This international archaeological work was necessary because Paraguay lost much of its film archive during the Stroessner dictatorship. The regime ended in 1989 when military forces destroyed substantial portions of the country’s historical film material, erasing cultural heritage.
“For me, this film is more of an audiovisual offering than an absolute truth,” Pereira explained in recent interviews. “We collaborated with historians, artists, and people who lived through that era. We wanted to understand the impact of those images and recontextualise them for the present day.”
Director reflects on global relevance
The filmmaker expressed his enthusiasm about the Oscar selection whilst emphasising its broader significance for Paraguayan cinema. “I am very happy for the team and for what this means for national cinema. I believe this recognition helps the country and the film institute more than it helps me personally. What matters is that Paraguay has a presence in these international spaces,” Pereira stated.
The director noted the international community’s fascination with Paraguay’s relatively unknown history. “There is great ignorance about what the dictatorship in Paraguay was like, and the film opens a space for dialogue,” he observed. “Additionally, it arrives at a moment when the advance of new right-wing movements worldwide resonates with certain narratives from that time.”
International co-production effort
“Under the Flags, the Sun” represents a collaborative effort between five countries: Paraguay, Argentina, the United States, France, and Germany. The production companies involved include Cine Mío, Sabaté Films, and Maravilla Cine, working in partnership with Lardux Films, Bird Street Productions, and Welt Film.
Executive production was led by Ivana Urízar, Gabriela Sabaté, and Pereira in Paraguay, alongside teams from Argentina, the United States, and France. The project received crucial support from various international funding bodies, including the Ibermedia Programme, Paraguay’s National Audiovisual Institute (INAP), the National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONDEC), Argentina’s National Film and Audiovisual Institute (INCAA), the IDFA Bertha Fund from the Netherlands, and France’s Aide aux Cinémas du Monde.
Documentary cinema’s growing impact
Pereira positioned the work within Paraguay’s expanding documentary film landscape. “We are taking increasingly firm steps, with filmmakers of great talent. But we need sustained public policies that strengthen the sector. Documentary is a vital tool for understanding ourselves as a society and for opening necessary debates,” the director concluded.
The film’s domestic distribution in Paraguay is being handled by El Cuervo Filmes, ensuring local audiences can experience this international production. The documentary reconstructs their nation’s visual history through a creative lens, bringing global attention to Paraguay’s cinematic and historical narratives.
As Paraguay’s official Oscar submission, “Under the Flags, the Sun” will compete alongside documentaries from around the world for recognition at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 2026.
The film is available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Guaraní, English, German, French, and Portuguese, reflecting both its international scope and Paraguay’s linguistic heritage.
