Colombia has officially selected ‘A Poet’, directed by Simon Mesa Soto, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.
The film tells the story of Oscar Restrepo, played by first-time actor Ubeimar Rios, a struggling writer whose life has gone off track. Unemployed and living with his family in Medellín, Oscar spends his days wandering the streets in a drunken haze. He has frustrations with the state of literature in Colombia.
But things take a turn when he is asked to mentor a young, talented student named Yurlady, played by Rebeca Andrade.
With her guidance, Oscar sees a chance to fix his mistakes. This also helps him find redemption. But his habit of making bad choices keeps getting in the way.
‘A Poet’ is a mix of drama and comedy. It offers a look at second chances and personal growth.
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Alongside Rios and Andrade, the cast includes Guillermo Cardona, Humberto Restrepo, Alisson Correa, and Margarita Soto.
The movie made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section, where it impressed critics and won the jury prize. Following its release in Colombia, ‘A Poet’ is ready to reach North American audiences through a release by 1-2 Special.
Colombia has only once seen its film make it to the Oscar nomination stage, with Ciro Guerra’s ‘Embrace of the Serpent’ in 2015. Other Colombian films, like ‘Birds of Passage’ from Cristina Gallego and Guerra, have made the shortlist but fell short of a final nomination.