“Mi Padre Solía Decir” (My Father Used to Say)Audience Choice Award Recipient

Directed by: Oswald Gschliesser

Festival Edition: Winterfest ’26

Award Recognition: Audience Choice Award

Feature Type: Official Press Winners Feature

Published by: Cinematic Luxe Indie Showcase

Publication Date: April, 2026

Feature ID: CL-PF-WF26-012

Feature Overview

Mi Padre Solía Decir is a deeply personal and reflective journey through grief, memory, and reconciliation. Rooted in lived experience, the film follows a path that is both physical and emotional one shaped by loss, silence, and the enduring presence of a father’s voice.

Set against the vast and solitary landscapes of the Chaco, the story unfolds through quiet observation and symbolic detail, allowing memory to guide the narrative rather than traditional structure. What emerges is a film that does not seek resolution in the conventional sense but instead offers something more intimate: acceptance.

Cinematic Luxe Insight

Mi Padre Solía Decir stands out through its emotional honesty and its ability to translate personal experience into a universally resonant story. The film embraces stillness, allowing reflection and memory to shape the rhythm of the narrative.

With a Narrative Insights Score of 8.3 / 10 — Strong, the film demonstrates engaging storytelling, confident creative direction, and a powerful connection with viewers across cultures.

Director Conversation

The following conversation is presented as part of Cinematic Luxe’s official winners feature spotlight.

The Story & Connection

Congratulations on winning the Audience Choice Award at the Cinematic Luxe Indie Showcase. What does it mean to you knowing that audiences connected so deeply with this story?

Winning the Audience Choice Award is, above all, the validation of an act of faith. I needed to know if this story, born from my most intimate memories and the grieving process for my father, had the strength to stand on its own. Knowing that people from different cultures connected with it so deeply confirms that when you are honest about your own roots, the story ceases to be local and becomes universal. Receiving this news in March the month of both my father’s and my own birthday, gives it a meaning that transcends the professional; it is the ultimate reminder that his voice continues to resonate through my work.

The Origin

The film begins with a simple, yet powerful request left behind by Owi’s father. When developing the story, what inspired that intimate starting point?

That starting point is taken from real life. After my father passed away, for months I would go to the dining room to contemplate his photograph, particularly the photo where he is taking food to the sheep and geese.

In those moments, in silence, the phrases that my father used to tell us when he shared his stories, thousands of stories and thousands of phrases would come to my mind. For me, it was almost instinctive to start this story from there.

Journey & Reflection

Much of the film unfolds during Owi’s journey along the Transchaco road. How did the idea of the physical journey mirror the emotional journey he experiences?

The Transchaco road is the perfect setting for this reflection because it is a path of contrasts: it is arid, solitary, and at times, it feels endless. That physical journey the dust, the heat, and the silence of the landscape is the external representation of grief. Moving along that red road is like processing loss: it’s a journey you must take alone, where the destination matters less than the fact of being in motion. The physical path gives the protagonist the necessary space for his emotional journey to finally "breathe" and find its own rhythm.

Director's Quote

“When you are honest about your own roots, the story ceases to be local and becomes universal.”

Memory & Stillness

The film is filled with quiet moments, memories, photographs, and phrases that echo through the story. How did you approach capturing those reflective spaces on screen?

My approach was not to force the drama. The bedroom scene is very close to what I actually went through in real life, and I didn't want to do a "recreation," but rather to "release" something I had been carrying inside for a long time.

I treated the camera as a silent observer with no complicated shots or movements. That particular scene took me around seven hours to shoot, not because of its technical complexity, although it has its challenges, but because when Owi discovers something, it's not a prop; it’s an object that literally connects him to a memory.

Theme & Meaning

The relationship between memory and reconciliation is central to the film. What did you hope audiences would feel or reflect on after watching Owi’s journey?

My hope is for the audience to understand that reconciliation doesn't always require the other person to be physically present; it is an internal process. We often carry guilt or unspoken words, and Owi’s journey demonstrates that we can make peace with the past through memory and acceptance. I hope that by the end of the film, viewers feel the urge to look at their own family photographs not with sadness, but with the peace of knowing that those who are gone continue to live on in the small details and the stories we choose to keep telling.

Symbolism & Objects

The old watch, the suitcase, and the boxes all carry symbolic weight. How did these objects help shape the emotional language of the film?

Those objects are not just props; they are the only remaining physical witnesses of a life that is gone. For me, the emotional language of the film is built on "touch." The watch marks a time that has stopped, yet still carries weight on the wrist; the suitcase and the boxes represent the emotional baggage Owi is dragging along. By filming these objects in close-up, I wanted the audience to feel that memory isn't something abstract, but something you can touch, open, and eventually, let go of. They are the physical bridge that allows the protagonist to communicate with his father’s silence.

Environment & Atmosphere

The landscapes of the Chaco play a strong visual role in the story. How important was the environment in shaping the atmosphere of the film?

Filming in the Chaco allowed the character's solitude to be something the audience breathes through the image, rather than something explained with words. Without that specific and raw geography, the story’s emotional reconciliation wouldn't have carried the same weight.

Personal Truth

Many viewers said the film felt very personal and intimate. Were there elements of your own experiences or memories that influenced the storytelling?

Well, that’s because Owi the protagonist is literally me from just a few months ago. While I took some creative liberties and allowed myself to fictionalize certain experiences, the truth is that I had to go through a deep depression after losing my father. The process of getting out of there is what I wanted to transport and release during that journey through the vastness of the Chaco.

Purpose & Meaning

The film suggests that sometimes purpose matters more than destination. Was that idea something you set out to explore from the beginning, or did it reveal itself during the creative process?

It revealed itself during the process. At first, like Owi, I thought the important thing was to reach a place, fulfill a request, or finish a film. But the Chaco teaches you that the destination is just an excuse to get yourself moving. During filming, I realized that what was healing me wasn't "arriving," but the purpose of being there filming and processing my memories with every kilometer. The journey became an end in itself, and that lesson ended up permeating the entire narrative of the work.

Looking Ahead

Now that the film has received the Audience Choice Award, how does it feel to see this deeply personal story resonate with viewers from different cultures and backgrounds?

It is a feeling of deep validation and, at the same time, a constant surprise. When you make something so personal, you always fear that it might be "too much yours" and that no one else will understand it. I am very grateful for this recognition.

Judge’s Quote

“The film resonated strongly with audiences, particularly through its cinematography and direction, creating an experience that felt both personal and universally engaging.”

Recognition

Mi Padre Solía Decir (My Father Used to Say) was awarded the Audience Choice Award at the Cinematic Luxe Indie Showcase Winterfest ’26, recognized for its emotional depth, authentic storytelling, and its ability to connect with audiences across cultures through a deeply personal narrative.