The Panamanian documentary “Hijo de Tigre y Mula” (Son of a Tiger and a Mule) received the Special Jury Prize at the 2025 Festival of New Latin American Cinema, held in Havana, Cuba. The film tells the story behind the negotiations of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, agreements that allowed Panama to regain control of the Canal and its full territorial sovereignty. The film was directed by filmmaker Annie Canavaggio, winner of the 2016 National Cinema Fund Contest. It explores his international diplomacy and the intrigues to achieve the agreement. In summary, it offers an intimate vision of General Omar Torrijos Herrera. The film uses previously unreleased 16mm film footage and historical photographs from the 1970s. It also incorporates testimonies and interviews with negotiators such as Aristides Royo and Adolfo Ahumada. The film won the Special Jury Prize in the Documentary Feature category. The work focuses on the figure of Torrijos, who governed Panama from 1968 to 1981. At the time, it reached the top of the box office with a notable reception among audiences of all ages. The film had its official premiere in Panamanian cinemas on March 13, 2025. Gabriel García Márquez described it with the title's phrase: 'Silent as the tiger and stubborn as the mule'.
Panamanian Documentary Wins Award at Cuban Film Festival
The Panamanian documentary “Hijo de Tigre y Mula” won the Special Jury Prize at the 2025 Festival of New Latin American Cinema. The film tells the story of General Omar Torrijos and the treaties that returned control of the Canal to Panama.
