Luis Ospina (b. 1947) is a Colombian film director, producer, and writer. He is best known for his experimental films and documentaries that explore the culture and politics of his home country. Ospina is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of Colombian cinema, having made more than 25 films since the 1970s.
Ospina was born in 1947 in Bogotá, Colombia. He studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. After returning to Colombia, Ospina worked as a film critic and then as a journalist for several newspapers.
In the 1970s, Ospina formed a production company in Bogotá and began producing short films. His first feature-length film was La Silla Vacía (The Empty Chair) in 1979, an experimental documentary that captured the essence of the Colombian avant-garde. The film was a critical success and screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ospina has since produced a number of documentaries, including El Vuelco del Cangrejo (The Turn of the Crab, 1981) and Cazador de Aventuras (Adventure Hunter, 1982). He also directed the feature-length documentary La Vida de los Otros (The Life of Others, 1983) which explored the lives of people living in the Colombian countryside.
In the 1990s, Ospina returned to feature films, exploring the topics of poverty and drug trafficking in Colombia. His films, such as El Desempleado (The Unemployed, 1993) and La Historia de una Soledad (The Story of a Solitude, 1996), examine the economic and social conditions of Colombia.
Ospina’s most recent work includes documentaries such as Al Otro Lado (On the Other Side, 2008) and Cosas Que No Se Olvidan (Things That Are Not Forgotten, 2009). He has also directed more experimental films such as El Abrazo de la Serpiente (Embrace of the Serpent, 2015), which won the César Award for Best Foreign Film.
Throughout his career, Ospina has been recognized for his unique and innovative approach to filmmaking. He has won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival. Ospina’s films have been featured in many international film
