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Runa Simi

Play trailer Poster for Runa Simi In Theaters Nov 6 1h 21m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 8 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
Fernando Valencia, a 29-year-old voice artist from Cusco, Peru, is an Indigenous activist, painter, and devoted single father. Known for his uncanny ability to voice multiple characters, he launched Quechua Clips--a viral project that reimagines iconic animated scenes in Quechua, the ancestral language of the Incas, also known as Runa Simi. The response was overwhelming: millions of Quechua speakers hungry for stories in their own language. Fueled by this groundswell of support, Fernando sets his sights on an ambitious and quixotic dream--to dub Disney's 1994 classic The Lion King into Quechua, with the help of his spirited eight-year-old son, Dylan. Armed with a homemade studio and relentless resolve, Fernando navigates countless ups and downs, facing rejection, setbacks, and self-doubt. Yet through it all, his determination never wavers, turning his personal mission into a powerful call for language justice and cultural reclamation.
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Cast & Crew

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Augusto Zegarra

Director

Fernando Valencia

Self

Dylan Valencia

Self

Claudia Chávez Lévano

Producer

Paloma Iturriaga

Producer

Renzo Rivas

Cinematographer

Critics Reviews

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Natalia Winkelman New York Times Aug 28, 2026
As the years wear on and the pandemic arrives, “Runa Simi” links Valencia’s advocacy efforts to a new theme: the power of cinema to bring people together. Go to Full Review Pat Mullen POV Magazine Feb 10, 2026
More audiences can now know that "Hakuna Matata" translates to "Hakuchu Munayta" in Quechua. But no matter the language, accessible cinema ain’t no passing craze. Go to Full Review Alfred Castaneda Shade Studios Aug 22, 2025
Watching Runa Simi is enlightening, moving and uplifting. By the end we’re hoping that Disney stumbles upon this gem of a documentary. Go to Full Review Marcelo Paredes Cinencuentro Aug 11, 2025
...watching the protagonist's fight against this global giant is fascinating and, in my opinion, the most interesting aspect of the documentary. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Juan Carlos Ugarelli Cinencuentro Jun 17, 2025
...Runa Simi champions the need for indigenous people to be able to access cinema in their own language, just as people who experience films in other dominant languages ​​like English or Spanish do. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Ricardo Gallegos La Estatuilla Jun 14, 2025
A deeply moving testimony that cinema, in addition to entertain, has the incredible capacity to awaken in audiences the will to change the world. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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Runa Simi

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Movie Info

Synopsis Fernando Valencia, a 29-year-old voice artist from Cusco, Peru, is an Indigenous activist, painter, and devoted single father. Known for his uncanny ability to voice multiple characters, he launched Quechua Clips--a viral project that reimagines iconic animated scenes in Quechua, the ancestral language of the Incas, also known as Runa Simi. The response was overwhelming: millions of Quechua speakers hungry for stories in their own language. Fueled by this groundswell of support, Fernando sets his sights on an ambitious and quixotic dream--to dub Disney's 1994 classic The Lion King into Quechua, with the help of his spirited eight-year-old son, Dylan. Armed with a homemade studio and relentless resolve, Fernando navigates countless ups and downs, facing rejection, setbacks, and self-doubt. Yet through it all, his determination never wavers, turning his personal mission into a powerful call for language justice and cultural reclamation.
Director
Augusto Zegarra
Producer
Claudia Chávez Lévano, Paloma Iturriaga
Distributor
Cinema Tropical
Production Co
Cinema Tropical
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 6, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 21m
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