The work, produced and directed by Tarek Ode from Tenerife, has been awarded as best international documentary in the United States and selected for festivals in Spain, India, South Africa and the United States.
The footage was projected in La Gomera in 2024, within the framework of the development of the international conferences dedicated to the Silbo Gomero
The Cabildo of La Gomera highlights the trajectory and international recognition obtained by the documentary 'La Gomera, Isla Interior', presented internationally under the title 'La Gomera, Inner Island', a production directed by the Tenerife filmmaker Tarek Ode that proposes a visual and sound journey to the heart of the island.
The work has been recognized as best international documentary at the Panther City Film Festival in the United States, in its 2026 edition. Likewise, it has been an official finalist in the cultural heritage and documentary category of the International Tourism Film Festival Africa, held in South Africa in 2026.
Added to these awards are its official selection at the Girona Film Festival, in Spain, in 2025; the International Folklore Film Festival, in India, in 2025; the Aawaz Suno Pahadon Ki Film Festival, also in India, in 2025; and the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival, in the United States, in 2026.
The president of the Cabildo, Casimiro Curbelo, noted that this tour of festivals in different countries “will contribute significantly to reinforcing the cultural and audiovisual projection of La Gomera in the international arena.” In this way, he placed special emphasis on “the dissemination of the documentary will promote knowledge of the Silbo Gomero, one of the most representative cultural manifestations of the island and an essential element of its collective identity.”
'La Gomera, Interior Island' brings the viewer closer to a territory in which landscape, memory and traditions maintain a permanent dialogue. Through forests, ravines, ancient trades and testimonies of its inhabitants, the film portrays an island where time seems to have stopped and where expressions such as the Silbo Gomero and the romancero continue to be transmitted as a living echo of memory.
The production stands out for its careful visual and sound construction, with a contemplative look that invites us to reflect on the relationship of people with the territory, the passage of time and the essence of existence. The work thus transcends the landscape dimension to show a human and cultural reality deeply linked to the history and traditional ways of life of La Gomera.
The documentary was screened on the island in 2024, within the framework of the international conference dedicated to the Silbo Gomero. This presentation made it possible to share the work with the Gomero public and link its cinematographic proposal with a space for analysis, dissemination and recognition of this unique language.
About the director
Tarek Ode, born in Tenerife in 1969, is a filmmaker, photographer and multidisciplinary artist. Throughout his career he has developed numerous documentary projects related to the heritage, archaeology, landscape and culture of the Canary Islands.
His works have been selected in national and international festivals held in places such as Bidasoa, Belgrade and India. Among his documentary productions are 'Orígenes', broadcast by Spanish Television in 2018; ‘Huellas’, released in 2021; and 'La Gomera, Interior Island', carried out in 2024.
He has also directed award-winning short films such as 'Déjame ser' and 'Quarantine'. His photographic production, presented in galleries and festivals, is characterized by integrating history, territory, landscape and culture from an artistic and documentary perspective.
