St. Vierja Academy

Upon the death of a high school friend, a doctor returns to his native Panama to pay his respects. While there, he relives his days in the renowned St. Vierja Academy, one of Panama's most exclusive catholic schools for boys in the 1970s, where he had to face obstacles that led him to question his self-worth.

  • Jose Antonio Stoute
    Director
  • Jose Antonio Stoute
    Writer
  • Daniel Isaac
    Producer
  • Andres Marin
    Key Cast
  • Jose Ramos
    Key Cast
  • Carlos Serrano
    Key Cast
  • Julio Chamorro
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Student
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Panama
  • Country of Filming:
    Panama
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Dragon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Miami
Director Biography - Jose Antonio Stoute

José Antonio Stoute is a Panamanian-american filmmaker. After a long and fulfilling career as a physician, he decided to make a radical change and study film to tell many stories of his native Panama. He recently graduated with an MFA in motion pictures from the University of Miami. The film "St. Vierja Academy" is his feature directorial debut.

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Director Statement

St. Vierja Academy tells a deeply personal story. It is inspired by my experience attending private catholic school in Panama but prior to writing I also collected a lot of anecdotes from many of my classmates. The movie deals with many serious issues such as bullying from students and teachers, social class differences, and also sexual abuse and the impact that has on the mind of a young child. However, it also has many funny moments. The people who have watched it have said that they both laughed and cried.