Cleveland Premiere
Showings
April 16, 2026
7:20 pm – 8:45 pm
Cedar Lee Theatre
Cedar Lee 5
About This Film
Festival Year: 2026
Run Time: 85 Minutes
Film Type: Feature
Animated: No
Genre: Documentary
Interests: First-Time Features, Indigenous Cinema
Countr(ies): Peru
Language: Spanish, Quechua
English Subtitles: Yes
Captions: Open
Film Overview
Fernando Valencia, a 29-year-old voice artist from Cusco, Peru, is an Indigenous activist, painter, and devoted single father. Known for his uncanny ability to voice multiple characters, he launched Quechua Clips—a viral project that reimagines iconic animated scenes in Quechua, the ancestral language of the Incas, also known as Runa Simi. The response was overwhelming: millions of Quechua speakers hungry for stories in their own language.
Fueled by this groundswell of support, Fernando sets his sights on an ambitious and quixotic dream—to dub Disney’s 1994 classic The Lion King into Quechua, with the help of his spirited eight-year-old son, Dylan. Armed with a homemade studio and relentless resolve, Fernando navigates countless ups and downs, facing rejection, setbacks, and self-doubt. Yet through it all, his determination never wavers, turning his personal mission into a powerful call for language justice and cultural reclamation.
Programmer's Comment:
"A heartwarming father-and-son story about the importance of passing native languages on to the next generation. It’s a David vs. Goliath tale, and you’ll be inspired by Fernando’s resilience as he searches for the person who holds the key to bringing his dream to life. A documentary audiences of all ages can enjoy." – Ryan
Film Website: www.runasimidoc.com
Film Email: paloma@alaska88.com, produccion@alaska88.com
Cast & Crew
Directed By
Augusto Zegarra
Produced By
Claudia Chávez Lévano, Paloma Iturriaga
Cinematographers
Renzo Rivas
Editors
Carlos Rojas Felice
Principal Cast
Fernando Valencia, Dylan Valencia