Abner Benaim with Peter Decherney: Master Class with Panamanian Director Abner Benaim

Abner Benaim with Peter Decherney
Master Class with Panamanian Director Abner Benaim
Apr 20, 2026 @ 12:00pm - 1:30pm
330 Fisher-Bennett Hall | Penn Campus

Join writer/director Abner Benaim in discussion with Penn CIMS Prof. Peter Decherney as Benaim discusses his career, analyzes key moments from his award-winning narrative and documentary films, and answers your questions about his work and filmmaking.

Abner Benaim is considered one of the pioneers of Panamanian cinema since his debut film, the comedy CHANCE (2010). 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," which was shortlisted for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. Benaim is a founding member of the Panama Film Academy and a voting member of the United States' Academy of Motion Pictures. In 2004, he founded the production company Apertura Films in Panama. Abner is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.