Fina Torres

Fina Torres (born Josefina Torres Benedetti; October 9, 1951) is a Venezuelan film director and screenwriter. She became internationally recognized after winning the la Caméra d'Or award at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival with her directorial debut film, Oriana.

She may be best known for Oriana, Celestial Clockwork and Fox Searchlight Woman on Top with Penélope Cruz. She lives in Venezuela.

Background Fina Torres was born in Caracas. She studied design, photography, and journalism. At the age of 17, she became a photojournalist. She enrolled at the Neumann institute for Design in 1970 as a graphics design student and also took social communication at Andrés Bello Catholic University.

In 1974, she moved to Paris where she earned a bachelor's degree in cinematography, direction and editing from the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques. She spent the next 28 years of her life in the film industry. After Paris, she lived in the United States, Mexico, Singapore, and eventually returned to Venezuela.

In 1996, Torres' second film Celestial Clockwork, was released during the Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Roger Ebert's review, August 16, 1996: "Celestial Clockwork is a riotous carnival of music, colors, witchery, sexuality and magic. If Almodóvar had made this movie, it would have been hailed as his best work in years."

In 2000, Torres directed Woman on Top (Fox Searchlight production) with Penélope Cruz. The film made the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. Variety critic Lisa Nesselson July 26, 2000 wrote "A fantastical romp with a buoyant pace, exotic locations, a finger-popping score, appealing leads and spicy cooking demonstrations." "A contempo fairy tale about thwarted romance, the pic never falters in its adherence to its own bubbly, consistently inventive rhythm."

In 2010, Torres won the best feature film prize at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival with her film Habana Eva. The film also won the Best Venezuelan Film prize at the Margarita Film Festival in Venezuela.

She is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD) of France. Torres' films in particular, focus on strong female characters who defy patriarchal norms.

Awards For the film Oriana: May 1985: Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera) during the Cannes Festival, sélection officielle "Un certain regard" 1985: Bronze Hugo, Chicago International film Festival 1985: Catalina de Oro (Golden Catalina) for best film, Cartagena International film Festival 1985: Catalina de Oro (Golden Catalina) for best script, Cartagena International film Festival Glauber Rocha's award for Best Spanish language film, Figueira da Foz International Film Festival August 1985: Revista Mujeres' award during the Figueira da Foz International Film Festival Honour Mencion of the Catholic Office-Figueira da Foz International Film Festival 1985: Honour Mencion of the Jury and honour mention of the Catholic Office, MANHEIM Film Festival 1986: National Awards (premios municipales de Caracas) for best film, best director, best photography, best actress Ateneo de Caracas award For the film Celestial Clockwork: 1995: Prix du public during the Namur Film Festival 1996: Grand Jury Award for outstanding narrative feature, Outfest Los Angeles Festival 1996: Anac National Award for best Venezuelan film 1996: Special award during the Washington Film Festival For the film Women On Top: 2000: Sélection officielle "Un Certain Regard" during the Cannes Film Festival 2001: Nominated for best director during the Alma Awards For the film Habana Eva: 2010: Best film during the New York International Latino Film Fest 2010: 2nd audience award during the Los Angeles International Latino Film Fest 2010: Best film audience award during the Amazonia International Film Fest (Brazil) 2010: Best film during the International Latino Margarita Film Fest 2010: Best supporting actress during the Mérida International Film Fest 2010: Best actress during the Cines Unidos Award 2011: Mesquite award for best film San Antonio Film Fest Best actress during the Prakriti Maduro Punta Del Este Film Fest (Uruguay) For the film Liz in September: Audience Award for best women's feature at Atlanta's Out On Film LGBT Film Festival Audience Award for best feature at the SouthWest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2015: Best feature during Atlanta's Out On Film 2015: Best women's feature Festival Les Gais Cine Mad (España) 2015: Audience Award 2015 during the Festival Sant Andreu de la Barca 2015: Best Foreign Film during the Out Film CT: Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Best Feature Audience Award during the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Filmography Oriana (1985) Celestial Clockwork (1996) Woman on Top (2000) Habana Eva (2008) Liz in September (2014)