Venezuelan documentary “Kueka, Ancestral Memory” will participate in the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival

Published at: 29/04/2026 11:04 AM

The Venezuelan documentary Kueka, Ancestral Memory, directed by María de los Ángeles Peña, will be part of the program of the fifteenth edition of the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival, which will be held from May 24 to July 5 at different venues in Philadelphia, United States.

The festival, which will last six weeks, will bring together more than 150 audiovisual productions in a continuous program of screenings and cultural activities, consolidating itself as a platform to make Latin cinema visible and promote artistic exchange, according to a note from Venezolana de Televisión.

The Venezuelan work tells the story of the Pemón people, in the south of the country, and their struggle for the return of Kowai Kueka, a red jasper stone considered their ancient grandmother, stolen without consent and transferred to Germany as part of an artistic installation.

The story explains how, after the extraction of the stone, natural cycles in the community were altered, generating imbalances such as floods and droughts. Based on this experience, the guardians of memory undertake a struggle for the restoration of balance and the preservation of their cultural identity.

Since its release in April 2025, the documentary has won four international awards and eight official festival selections, consolidating its projection on the film circuit.

The festival program will be organized in weekly blocks, from May 24 to 30 to June 28 to July 5, and will include special activities such as outdoor screenings, including a function dedicated to the cultural roots of Puerto Rico at Roberto Clemente Park.

Mazo News Team