Experiencing Interruptions?

Bus

In the middle of rush hour traffic in Lima, a young student refuses to give up his seat to an elderly woman, sparking unexpected chaos among the passengers.

  • Andre Balbuena
    Director
    A First Date, A Good Lawyer
  • Andre Balbuena
    Writer
    A First Date
  • Jorge Constantino
    Producer
    Through Rocks And Clouds, Alone
  • Manuel Gold
    Key Cast
    NN, The Dreamer, The Cleaner
  • Kathy Serrano
    Key Cast
  • Haydée Cáceres
    Key Cast
    Moon Heart
  • Carlos Vattuone
    Cinematographer
    The Assistant
  • Cynthia Rodríguez Toro
    Production Designer
  • Giovanni Rossi
    Sound Designer
  • Jorge Miranda
    Musician
    How To Get Over A Breakup
  • Ursula Coello
    Editor
  • Andre Balbuena
    Editor
  • Gabriel Marcos
    VFX Supervisor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Bus
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Dark Comedy, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Peru
  • Country of Filming:
    Peru
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.90:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Andre Balbuena

Andre Balbuena is a director and writer based in Lima, Peru. He made his directorial debut in 2019 with the musical short film "A First Date", which won Best Sound at a local film festival and was screened at three more across the country. While studying Communication at the University of Lima, he directed "A Good Lawyer", an adaptation of a micro-theater play, which was selected for a national film festival and has since garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube.

Andre has worked on several Peruvian studio films, including "Crazy in Love 3" and "Medias Hermanas", as well as the Netflix original film "Without Saying Goodbye" and the series "La Reina del Sur 3". As a video editor, he has collaborated with renowned Peruvian artists, including Latin Grammy winners Tony Succar and GianMarco. He also worked at Tondero, Peru’s most successful production company, in both the marketing and production departments.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Lima has some of the worst traffic in the world, with commuters spending up to four hours a day stuck in public transport, with no solution in sight. "Bus" was born out of my frustration with this reality and the contradictions in how we navigate public transport.

The film explores not just the act of giving up a seat, but the motivations behind it. Do we act out of genuine empathy, social pressure, or the need for approval? How much are we willing to sacrifice our own needs for others? And how do these everyday choices reflect the deeper dysfunction at the heart of urban traffic? I hope the audience see themselves in the film and question their own motivations, even if just for a moment.

Since filming in Lima’s chaotic streets was impossible, we recreated the setting using green screens at the CREA studio of Universidad de Lima, combining 360° footage with real ambient sound. After a year and a half of meticulous post-production, "Bus" came to life as a dark comedy that reflects on civility and human behavior in a crowded city.