Thecinema ofIquitos, also known asAmazonian cinema, is an important film development and one of the historic pioneering event ofcinema of Peru.^[1] Due to therubber boom and the arrival of foreigners, film interest began in the early 20th century, along with the evolution ofcinema of the United States inHollywood. Cinema in Iquitos had no established date of origin. The first film, however, was made in 1900. The first films were shown in theCasa de Fierro with anEdison machine, which reproduced the images using acarbide lamp and the constant movement of the operator. Iquitos is mentioned as ametonym of cinema in thePeruvian Amazon.

The most important pioneer of cinema in Iquitos and theLoreto Region isAntonio Wong Rengifo, also a pioneer of film art in Peru, with his most important work beingBajo el sol de Loreto.^[2] Alongside this, other filmmakers such asWerner Herzog,Armando Robles Godoy, Nora Izcue, Federico García, andDorian Fernandez Moris prolonged the cinematic presence in the city.^[3]

Until around the 1880, Iquitos did not have afilm set. Interest infilm production grew alongsidethe film industry booming elsewhere in the world. There is not enough accurate visual record the exact birth of cinema in Iquitos.^[3][4][5] In 1890, following the rhythm of the European organization of the city, scientific technology began arriving.

The first film made in 1900 was recorded^{[clarification needed]}. A movie was projected for the first time in the Iron House with an Edison machine, which reproduced the images using a carbide lamp and the constant movement of an operator. Before the fact, in 1898, Clement Alcala and Francisco de Paula Secada obtained land on the north side of the Plaza de Armas, and built a rustic-roof building, naming it Alhambra. They installed a tiny carousel brought fromManaus, Brazil. In 1902, with the rubber boom and its international impact, Edward Fuller purchased Alhambra. It hence became the first movie theater in town with Lumière brand projectors.

In the continuous city growth following the success of the rubber extraction, and its connection with Europe, thebourgeoisie grew in the city. Arnaldo Reategui traveled toFrance in 1905, and bought a projector with a large collection of movies—inblack-and-white andtechnicolor—from cinema housePathé Freres andLéon Gaumont. He was affiliated with Luis Pinasco and built a cinema called Jardín Strassburgo, located on the first block of Sargento Lores street.^[3] The first stage of Iquitos film concluded in 1914, with a prominent presence of French filmmakers.Georges Méliès and Gaumont sent several films on celluloid for the aristocratic film billboard of Iquitos. The film making attracted audiences, and blockbusters were reaching £4,500.^[3]

Although the crisis hit Iquitos and had its effect on the industry, the arrival of new films did not stop. Films with a theatrical demeanor were gradually replaced by those more directed towards fiction. The filmmaking attracted new aspirations and acting talents, and thestar system was present in the market.^[3] The distribution ofCharlie Chaplin silent films were introduced by the Spanish businessman Jose Altimira.

The most important pioneer of cinema in Iquitos and theLoreto Region in general wasAntonio Wong Rengifo [es], also a pioneer of film art in Peru. It is mainly known for shaping their ideologies, aspirations and other thoughts in his films.^{[clarification needed]} Wong Rengifo, in the course of his film making, followed the changing technology in the United States. In 1936, he premiered his filmBajo el sol de Loreto, a film which examines the main economic engine, and the valuation of thePeruvian Amazon (called "Selvak" in the film). He is thought to give an active representation of the amazonian culture in his films.^[3] Wong worked as acameraman,developed his own films andedited them, and wrote his scripts inspired by Iquitos culture.

In October 1957, Wong started the production of a film, with Mexican actressAmalia Aguilar, to be shown at the First International Fair of Iquitos. Due to a fire, however, his film study was consumed by fire and never made it to cinemas.^[4] The same year, a group of filmmakers came from Hollywood, accompanied by Harma Lewis andKeith Larsen, to shoot 29 short films for the anthologyAdventure in the Amazon, directed by Tom McGowan (a little-known, recherché filmmaker in database),^[6] and produced byWarner Bros.^[4] The series was eventually canceled due to transportation spending.

By the 1960s, film was representing the beauty and calm of the jungle, and Iquitos was home to most regional and international filmmakers. In the 1970s, the cinema of Iquitos was influenced by Decree Law Number 19327, entitled "Law for the Promotion of Film Industry." The decree facilitated the production of new films, and the presentation of the Amazon image.^[3]

The film went on to a more complex film language with themes about the richness of the jungle, the imperialist power, mining and resource processing, and use of the natives as a portrait of tourism. During these years, there were notable films such asNo Stars in the Jungle (1966) andThe Green Wall (1969) byArmando Robles Godoy;Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) andFitzcarraldo (1982) byWerner Herzog;The Ayahuasca Wind (1983) by Nora Izcue andThe Partner of God (1986) by Federico Garcia.^[4] In 1990, Iquitos was gradually used as a stage for national and international soap operas; it was the backdrop forAnaconda (1997) byLuis Llosa;Captain Pantoja and the Special Services (2000) byFrancisco Lombardi;The Motorcycle Diaries by Walter Salles andDaughters of Belén (2004) by Javier Corcuera.

In 2002, publicist Dorian Fernandez-Moris founded Audiovisual Films—founded as Audiovisual—and began with a team of twenty people.^[7] He began with short films likeEl otro lado,Runamula and501, and subsequently made a series of workshops to increase interest in Iquitos cinephile.^[7] In 2006, he releasedChullachaqui (based on an Amazon known legend),Immortal, and the filmEl último piso (18 February 2010). The latter was filmed at the tallest building in the city.^[8] In 2012, Audiovisual Films producedGeneral Cemetery in Iquitos, and is scheduled for release in October 2012.^[9]

• Cinema of Peru
• Iquitos

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2012