Curfew

Curfew follows LESLIE BAXTER, a seasoned American war correspondent haunted by his past experiences in Vietnam, as he embarks on a perilous journey into the heart of Peru’s civil conflict. His mission: to find his missing colleagues, EDUARDO and LAURA, who vanished while investigating a massacre in the remote village of Ajomarca.

Baxter is joined by JIMENA LOSADA, a determined and resourceful American-Peruvian anchorwoman with deep ties to the region. Together, they traverse a landscape scarred by violence, encountering a mix of terrified villagers, corrupt officials, and deadly guerrilla fighters. As they piece together the story of EDUARDO and LAURA’s final days, they uncover damning evidence of a brutal military operation aimed at eradicating suspected rebels, resulting in the massacre of innocent civilians.

Their search leads them to a paramilitary camp deep in the jungle, where Jimena is captured and interrogated by the ruthless Commander CAMION. She discovers that VALDEZ, a journalist believed to have been killed by the Shining Path, is alive and collaborating with the paramilitary forces. With the help of Ashaninka warriors, JIMENA escapes, reuniting with BAXTER just as the situation in Ayacucho reaches a boiling point.

As the Shining Path launches a coordinated prison break, the city descends into chaos. BAXTER realizes that getting the evidence out of Ayacucho is the only way to ensure justice for his fallen colleagues. He entrusts JIMENA with a handmade altarpiece containing the incriminating videotape and sends her to Lima, while he stays behind to face the escalating danger.

The film culminates in a powerful televised exposé, revealing the full extent of the military’s atrocities and honoring the sacrifices of EDUARDO and LAURA. Curfew is a tense, gripping story that explores the intersection of journalism, war, and morality, highlighting the personal cost of uncovering the truth in a world where lies and violence often prevail.

  • Rodolfo Pereira
    Writer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Toque de Queda
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Drama, Thriller, Political
  • Number of Pages:
    117
  • Country of Origin:
    Peru
  • Language:
    English, Quechua, Spanish
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest
    Palm Springs
    August 13, 2024
    Finalist
  • Richmond International Film Festival Screenplay Competition
    Richmond
    October 25, 2023
    Semifinalist
  • CLIMAX Festival Internacional de Cinema Independiente
    Paris
    May 1, 2024
    Nominee Outstanding Macabre or Suspense Screenplay
  • Berlin International Screenwriting Festival
    Berlin
    September 2, 2024
    Official Selection,
  • FilmHaus International Film Festival Screenplay Competition
    Berlin
    June 13, 2024
    Semifinalist
  • PlanetCinema International Screenplay Awards
    New York
    July 18, 2024
    Semifinalist
  • StoryPros International Screenplay Contest 15th Annual - 2021

    November 17, 2021
    Semifinalist
  • Portland Screenplay Awards
    Portland
    November 10, 2021
    Semi Finalist
  • Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
    Santa Barbara
    November 12, 2021
    Honorable Mention
  • Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
    Los Angeles, USA
    February 19, 2021
    Semi Finalist
  • Miami Screenplay Awards
    Miami, FL
    January 24, 2021
    Quarter Finalist
  • Launch Pad
    Los Angeles, LA
    November 25, 2020
    Second Rounder
  • Screencraft Film Fund Competition
    Los Angeles, USA
    May 13, 2020
    Second round qualifier
  • Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition

    June 27, 2023
    Quarter finalist
  • Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition
    New York
    Quarter Finalist
  • ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
    Atlanta, GA
    April 14, 2021
    Quarterfinalist
  • Chicago Screenplay Awards
    Chicago
    June 23, 2021
    Quarterfinalist
  • WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab Fall

    July 21, 2021
    Quarterfinalist
  • XI FESTIVAL DE CINE DE EUROPA CENTRAL Y ORIENTAL - ESTELAB
    Lima
    October 1, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Canary Island International Film Market (Spain) CIIF
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
    November 13, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Diorama Film Festival & Market (India)
    New Delhy
    November 28, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Malaga Festival Fund Co-Production Event (Spain)
    Malaga (Spain)
    June 9, 2020
    Official Selection
  • National Fiction Film Competition - Ministry of Culture of Peru
    Lima
    September 16, 2016
    Best Feature Film Project
Writer Biography - Rodolfo Pereira

Rodolfo Pereira is a Peruvian filmmaker, former diplomat, writer, and journalist with a diverse and accomplished career in the film and television industry.

Pereira’s feature film project, Curfew, won the prestigious 2016 National Feature Film Contest organized by the Ministry of Culture of Peru. The screenplay for Curfew has garnered significant acclaim, winning 13 prizes in international screenplay contests, mostly in the USA. Curfew has also gained international recognition, being selected for the Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIF) in 2019 and the First Co-Production Lab at the XI Central and Eastern European Film Festival. In 2020, the project was further honored with selections for the Málaga Festival Fund Co-Production Event (MAFF, Spain) and the Diorama International Film Festival and Market Co-Production Bazaar (New Delhi, India).
In addition to his work on Curfew, Pereira has directed four documentaries and two award-winning short fiction films in Peru. His expertise extends to television, where he co-directed more than 100 episodes of two successful Peruvian TV series, Gamboa and Malahierba.

Pereira also served as Executive Producer for LAPTV, a cable television channel jointly owned by MGM, Universal, 20th Century Fox, and Paramount. In this role, he was instrumental in bringing diverse, multicultural content to audiences across 18 Latin American countries.

Add Writer Biography
Writer Statement

Curfew is not just a film—it’s a story that needed to be told. Drawing from the turbulent history of Peru’s internal conflict during the 1980s and 90s, this narrative is deeply rooted in the real-life horrors of war, political corruption, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. As a writer, I felt compelled to bring this story to the screen to shed light on a dark chapter in history that still reverberates today.

The inspiration for Curfew stems from my personal connection to the region and its people. Having spent significant time in Peru, I have witnessed the scars left by the violence and fear that gripped the country during those years. The characters in Curfew—journalists who risk their lives to uncover the truth, villagers caught in the crossfire, and those who wield power with ruthless disregard for humanity—are a reflection of the complex, often contradictory forces at play in any conflict.

Through Curfew, I aim to explore the moral dilemmas faced by those who seek to document the truth in times of war. The film delves into the psychological toll that such a quest can take, both on the individuals who pursue it and on the communities they seek to protect. It’s a story about the cost of truth, the sacrifices made in its pursuit, and the enduring hope that justice can prevail, even in the darkest of times.

The narrative structure of Curfew is designed to immerse the audience in the tension and uncertainty of the situation. From the dense jungles of the Amazon to the desolate highlands of the Andes, the film’s setting serves as a character in its own right—hostile, unforgiving, yet hauntingly beautiful. This backdrop, combined with a plot that weaves together suspense, drama, and moments of profound human connection, creates a cinematic experience that is both intense and deeply affecting.

I believe that Curfew has the potential to resonate with global audiences because it addresses universal themes—truth, justice, and the human cost of conflict. While the story is specific to Peru, its message is relevant to any society grappling with the aftermath of violence and the challenges of reconciliation.

Having won 13 international screenwriting awards and secured financing in both Peru and Brazil, Curfew is a project that has already garnered significant recognition and support. This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I am committed to bringing this story to life with the integrity and authenticity it deserves.

Thank you for considering Curfew. I am confident that, with the right team and resources, this film will not only captivate audiences but also contribute to a broader understanding of the complexities of war, journalism, and the relentless pursuit of truth.