Ciro Durán, a highly acclaimed and accomplished Colombian filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, sadly departed this life on January 10, 2022, leaving behind a rich and extensive body of work that has endured for over five decades. Born on December 16, 1937, Durán's illustrious career in the film industry began in the 1960s, and he is widely recognized for his groundbreaking documentaries, including Gamín (1978) and La Guerra del Centavo (1985),as well as his critically acclaimed feature films, such as La Nave de los Sueños (1996) and La Toma de la Embajada (2000),which served as his final directorial effort.
Durán's educational journey began at the esteemed Colegio Nacional José Eusebio Caro in Ocaña, where he completed his high school studies. This foundation served as a springboard for his subsequent pursuit of higher learning, as he enrolled in the National University of Colombia in Bogota to study the fascinating disciplines of Chemistry and Mathematics.
Durán's initial foray into the realm of direction and production occurred in 1962, when he embarked on the creative endeavor of capturing the medium-length film "La paga" in the vibrant nation of Venezuela, his original script serving as the foundation for a poignant narrative that delved into the struggles faced by the peasant community. This inaugural production ultimately paved the way for Durán's subsequent professional endeavors, as he was subsequently recruited in 1968 to helm the ambitious Colombian-Venezuelan co-production "Aquileo Venganza".
Notable Colombian filmmaker, Durán, relocated to Bogotá, where he crafted a string of internationally acclaimed documentary shorts, including the critically acclaimed "Corralejas de Sincelejo y Tayrona", a collaborative effort with Joyce Ventura. Following a prolonged period of dedication to the plight of abandoned children, Durán's production company released "Gamín", a feature-length documentary that chronicles the lives of several minors struggling to survive on the streets of Bogotá, spanning the entire age spectrum from youngest to oldest. This powerful and poignant film garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Donostia prize for Best Director at the San Sebastián Film Festival, and made its world premiere at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival.
Anne-Marie Miéville's professional journey commenced with the creation of the documentary "Children of Two Worlds" in Germany's GDR, followed by a second feature documentary co-produced with Germany, "The Penny War". This was preceded by "Comment vont les enfants. Carmelo", a collaborative effort with renowned filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard, Lino Brocka, Rolan Bykov, Jerry Lewis, and Euzhan Palcy.
Durán's subsequent endeavors focused on fiction feature films, with notable productions including the Paramount Pictures venture "Nieve Tropical", starring Madeleine Stowe and David Carradine. Additionally, he created "La nave de los sueños" and "La toma de la embajada", a politically charged film depicting the seizure of the Dominican Republic embassy by the M-19 guerrilla group.
Noted Colombian filmmaker, Durán has made a lasting impact within the cinematic industry by serving as a juror for numerous prestigious film competitions throughout his illustrious career.
Notably, he has lent his expertise to the esteemed Leipzig Film Festival in 1978, the Moscow Film Festival in 1981, and the Montreal World Film Festival in 1984.
As a result of his outstanding contributions to the world of cinema, Durán is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional and accomplished Colombian filmmakers of the twentieth century.
On a specific date, January 28, 1997, the renowned filmmaker, Durán, made a triumphant return to the esteemed towns of Convención and Ocaña, after a prolonged period of absence, to unveil his highly anticipated cinematic masterpiece, La nave de los sueños, at the prestigious Leonelda Cinema, where it was met with great fanfare and acclaim, amidst the distinguished presence of the esteemed José Antonio Amaya Martínez.
