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Piedras preciosas

Gemstones
Forum 2026
© Triángulo
Young Colombian immigrant Machado has a job harvesting grapes in the French countryside. He also seems to have a criminal past, as a female gangster boss hires him to steal a valuable emerald – dressed up as a priest – from a famous church close to Medellín. Yet this supposedly watertight plan quickly goes awry ... Images and moments, woven together with fine threads: amusingly and with considerable lightness of touch, director Simón Vélez gets to grips with and reconfigures the gangster film genre. The plot is characterised by original dramatic paths rather than a classical linear narration: pared down in terms of action and dialogue, unfolding at unique locations that do not just frame the plot but enter into a congenial unity with the characters. The striking camerawork carries out expeditions through Colombia’s multifaceted flora – at once shimmering and shining, just like the object of desire. Imposing colour compositions, energetic dances, cool costume design: Piedras preciosas is a feature debut that elegantly eschews Colombian stereotypes, relates to colonial history and cultivates a timeless pop aesthetic.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Simón Vélez (Director), Paulo Carneiro (Screenplay)
with Juan Lugo, Laura Taurines, Sofía Jaramillo, Yira Plaza, Daniel Cortés, Chiara Spolaor Colombia / Portugal 2026 Spanish, French 70' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Juan Lugo
  • Laura Taurines
  • Sofía Jaramillo
  • Yira Plaza
  • Daniel Cortés
  • Chiara Spolaor

Crew

Director Simón Vélez
Screenplay Paulo Carneiro
Cinematography Mauricio Reyes, Liberman Arango
Editing Juan Cañola
Music Carlos Quebrada
Sound Design Daniel Giraldo, Juanma López
Costumes Paula Ciro
Producer Simón Vélez
Executive Producers Simón Vélez, Paulo Carneiro

Produced by

Triángulo

Medellin, Colombia

Bam Bam Cinema

Porto, Portugal

Photos

Simón Vélez

Simón Vélez, born in Medellín, Colombia, in 1990, is a director and producer. He studied film at Universidad del Cine (FUC) in Buenos Aires. His short film La máxima longitud de un puente (2018) received a Special Mention at the Locarno Film Festival, and Los mayores ríos se deslizan bajo tierra (2022) won the Best Short Film Award at the Valdivia Film Festival.

Filmography

2015 Por ver la luz en tus pupilas (The Light in Your Eyes); short film 2016 Historia del agua (Water Story); short film 2018 La máxima longitud de un puente (Big Bridge); short film 2022 Los mayores ríos se deslizan bajo tierra (Underground Rivers); short film 2024 Historia del aire (Air Story); short film 2026 Piedras preciosas (Gemstones)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026