Simón Mesa Soto sheds light on the life of a quiet poet rising from the streets of Medellín. A Poet (Un Poeta) flows in the shadow of Oscar Restrepo, following an aging poet’s reckoning with both his past and the burdens of living up to what it means to be a poet. In the midst of a life woven with alcohol, disappointment, and obscurity, Oscar encounters the young Yurlady; recognizing her talent for poetry, he attempts to nurture and support her. Their relationship transforms into a fragile yet instructive solidarity, inviting us on a journey that questions the boundaries of art, passion, and hope.Mesa Soto’s remarkable camera gaze lingers in Oscar’s solitude and in the bond he forms with Yurlady, dizzying the viewer in every sense. The film presents a world interlaced with the regrets of aging, the highs and lows of the creative process, and the weight of social fabric. In every frame, the reality of Medellín collides with the idealism of art; absurd, tragic, and comic tones intertwine.Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, A Poet won the Jury Prize, drawing the attention of critics. Lauded throughout its festival run, the film has emerged as one of the standout works set to represent Colombia at the 2026 Academy Awards. Shot in just about 30 days on Super 16mm, with a cast praised for its naturalistic performances, the film achieves a textured yet deeply moving realism.A Poet is more than the story of a poet’s life; it is a profound meditation on art, existence, and confronting the past, offering audiences the chance to lose themselves in the poet’s solitary world — and to return with feelings to carry back into their own lives.