Preámbulo presents “Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary”, an unmissable cultural experience in the heart of San José.

If you are in San José in mid-July and looking for something different to enjoy the city, the Film Center is opening its doors with an offering that combines art, reflection, and a journey through the most provocative contemporary cinema. This is the series Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary, part of the Preámbulo program, an initiative that has transformed the Gómez Miralles theater in Barrio Amón.

For three days, from July 17 to 19, the public can attend free screenings that explore themes such as memory, the body, freedom, and resistance, all through films that move between fiction and documentary. But beyond the films, the experience invites you to rediscover San José from a sensory, critical, and human perspective.

Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary

During this cycle, four feature films from different corners of the world—from Iran to Costa Rica—will be presented, inviting viewers to think, feel, and discuss current issues. Among them are stories about survivors reconstructing their memories, women breaking the silence, families torn apart by absence, and creators facing censorship. All have something in common: the use of a cinematic language that defies traditional labels.

Barrio Amón and Preámbulo “Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary”
Barrio Amón and Preámbulo “Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary”
Barrio Amón and Preámbulo “Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary”

The program includes international and national titles that invite reflection from different perspectives and styles. Among them are Reconstructing Utoya, a moving exercise in collective memory; Four Daughters, an intimate exploration of motherhood and rebellion; Memorias de un cuerpo que arde (Memories of a Body on Fire), a Costa Rican production that gives voice to women and their silenced desires; and No Bears, a work by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi that questions the limits of creative freedom. Each film, with its own unique language, enriches this offering that goes beyond entertainment.

Save the date:

  • Location: Film Center, Gómez Miralles Theater – Amón Neighborhood, San José
  • Dates: Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. (there will also be a performance on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.)
  • Admission: Free, on a first-come, first-served basis

Why go?

Because it’s a different way to get to know Costa Rica from the inside. That is, through its cultural spaces, its artistic voices, and its active participation in international dialogue. Whether you’re just passing through, spending a night at the Film Center is a way to connect with the contemporary pulse of the country.

Barrio Amón and Preámbulo “Miradas: Neither fiction nor documentary”

More information and schedule at: @preambulocr

Sensorial Sunsets