"My Beast," a film by Camila Beltrán

Born in 1984 in Bogotá, Colombia, Camila Beltrán ventured into filmmaking alongside her art studies at the university in her hometown. She later attended the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Paris-Cergy, where she gained attention for her experimental works, creating a unique style. Inspired by the "Cali Group," a Colombian artistic movement that fostered a cinematic counter-culture, she directed her first three short films: La Fiesta (2006), Le Soleil Brille (2007), and La Mala Hija (2010). She then moved on to fiction with two short films, Pedro Malheur in 2013 and John Marr in 2016. Her debut feature film, Mi Bestia, was showcased at the ACID section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. 

Dans Mi Bestia, Camila Beltrán filme la ville de Bogota en 1996 aux prises avec la survenue d’une éclipse lunaire. À l’occasion de cet événement, toute la population est soudainement paniquée à l’idée de voir apparaître le diable. Au cœur de ces inquiétudes, une jeune adolescente, Mila, s’interroge sur l’évolution des choses et une succession de coïncidences étranges. À mesure que l’échéance se rapproche, le monde lui semble devenir plus effrayant, mais c’est sa propre transformation qui va bientôt lui poser de réels problèmes. 

Camila Beltrán's first feature film draws as much from coming-of-age stories as from fantasy films, where beasts are never far from us. By tapping into the fears of a prophecy, she creates a disturbing, almost mystical atmosphere that speaks to the difficult transition to adulthood and the painful transformation of the body. The filmmaker draws inspiration from her own memories and Colombian urban legends to deliver an intense film, shot with a handheld camera, infused with infectious energy and striking characters. 

While Camila Beltrán had already gained recognition for her work through her short films, her first feature film, *Mi Bestia*, was selected for the ACID at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. It also received the Arte Kino Prize and was a recipient of the Moulin d'Andé, an institution that promotes access to and the transmission of art and culture to all. The film was supported by various grants for production, writing, and co-development. It benefited from the Aide aux cinémas du monde programme, co-managed by the Institut Français and the CNC. This support is reserved for feature-length fiction, animation, or creative documentary projects intended for initial theatrical release.