Felipe Guerrero: An encounter between the CSC and Cali’s cinematic cultures

Abstract

This article offers a critical review of Colombian Felipe Guerrero’s films and an insight into how his experiences at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome (CSC) might have nurtured and enriched his artistic work. First, I focus on Guerrero’s films Medellín (1999) and Paraíso (Paradise) (2006), which were the result of conversations with Adriano Aprà, a professor of non-fiction and experimental cinema at the CSC (Martín-Flórez 2023). Using an experimental and structural filmmaking lens, I then examine Guerrero’s most recent films, Corta (Cut) (2012) and Oscuro Animal (Dark Beast) (2016). A critical analysis allows for a deeper understanding of the filmmaking legacy of this artist, demonstrating how Guerrero’s experiences at the CSC have influenced his film artistry and ultimately contributed to the legacy of cinema in Cali (Colombia) and of practices that have been fundamental to the revitalization of contemporary Colombian cinema.