DocFest: Runa Simi

Runa Simi

Peru | 2025 | 86 min. | Augusto Zegarra

October 17, 2025

SIFF DocFest

A charismatic Peruvian voice actor and his son embark on an extraordinary quest: to dub Disney’s The Lion King into their native language of Quechua, the most widely spoken Indigenous language in South America.

SIFF year-round passes and vouchers are not valid for DocFest screenings.

Fernando Valencia, an Indigenous voice actor and single father from Cusco, Peru, became a viral sensation by dubbing beloved animated clips into Quechua — an endangered yet still widely spoken language in South America. Now, Fernando dreams of an ambitious new goal — to dub Disney’s The Lion King into Quechua, reclaiming a global classic in the language of his ancestors. What began as a playful project with his son Dylan quickly transforms into a full-fledged mission: a joyful act of preservation, identity, and pride. With rare tenderness and warmth, director Augusto Zegarra documents Fernando’s cultural mission, capturing each step as he assembles a voice cast, pursues financial support, and confronts the barriers of Hollywood gatekeeping, all while balancing the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood. Both intimate and expansive, Runa Simi is a buoyant and heartfelt portrait of resilience, cultural pride, and the transformative power of language.

  • Director: Augusto Zegarra
  • Principal Cast: Fernando Valencia, Dylan Valencia
  • Country: Peru
  • Year: 2025
  • Running Time: 86 min.
  • Producer: Claudia Chávez Lévano, Paloma Iturriaga
  • Cinematographers: Renzo Rivas
  • Editors: Carlos Rojas
  • Music: Pauchi Sasaki
  • Awards: Tribeca 2025 (Best New Documentary Director), Lima Film Festival 2025 (Audience Award)
  • Language: English, Quechua, Spanish
  • Has Subtitles: Yes
  • International Sales: Estudio Alaska 88