Director, Producer and Screenwriter.
Considered one of the pioneers of Panamanian cinema. He has represented his country three times as the official selection for the Oscars with his documentaries “Invasion” (2014) and “Ruben Blades Is Not My Name” (2018) and in 2022 with the drama “Plaza Catedral“, shortlisted in the Best Foreign Film Category at the Oscars.
Benaim studied International Relations and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and then film directing at “Camera Obscura”, Tel Aviv. In 2004, he founded the production company Apertura Films, in his native Panama. He is one the founding members of the local Panamanian Academy , and a new member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
His first feature film, “Chance” (2010), was the first film to be released in Panama in 60 years, and was seen by more than 500,000 viewers in the region. “Invasion” (documentary feature film, premiered at True/ False, Miami- best director award and IDFA 2014) was Panama’s first Academy Awards submission and had an audience of 50,000 people in local theaters.
His documentary “My name is not Ruben Blades” premiered at SXSW, where it won the audience award. It was screened in more than 50 festivals around the world and cinemas in 10 Latin American countries. It was also selected to represent Panama at the Oscar and Goya awards and nominated for best documentary at the Platino Awards.
“Plaza Catedral“, his latest feature film, won best actor and best actress awards at the Guadalajara International Film Festival, Best Film award at IFF Panama, and made history as the first Panamanian film ever shortlisted for the Oscars. The film won the best project award at the Berlinale talent market when it was in development.
Benaim’s films have been selected at prestigious film festivals and have won multiple awards, theatrically released in more than 10 countries in the region and in the United States and broadcast on HBO USA, HBO Latam and Netflix USA.
Benaim’s work deals with social issues and poignant personal stories told in an unceremonious, sometimes humorous and irreverent tone.
