The Dog Thief (Spanish: El ladrón de perros) is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Vinko Tomičić in his directorial debut. It stars Franklin Aro and Alfredo Castro. It follows a poor young orphan who steals the dog of his best client who sees him as a father figure.
A co-production between Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, France and Italy, the film had its world premiere at the 23rd Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024.
Synopsis Martín is a young orphan who survives by working as a shoeshine boy in La Paz while facing discrimination and poverty. His relationship with a lonely tailor leads him to steal his client's dog, whom he has begun to imagine as his possible father.
Cast
Franklin Aro as Martin Alfredo Castro as Mr. Novoa María Luque as Gladys Julio César Altamirano as El Sombras Ninon Davalos as Mrs. Ambrosia Teresa Ruiz as Mrs. Andrea Kleber Aro Huasco as El Monedas Vladimir Gonza Mamani as El Conejo Jhoselyn Rosmery Cosme as Alicia Wolframio Sinué as Billar Felix Francisco Omonte Vargas as High School Principal Iván Cori Mamani as Teacher Raúl Montecinos Heredia as Processor
Release The Dog Thief had its world premiere on June 6, 2024, at the 23rd Tribeca Film Festival, then screened on June 12, 2024, at the 39th Guadalajara International Film Festival, on June 22, 2024, at the 12th Costa Rica International Film Festival, on July 1, 2024, at the 41st Filmfest München, on August 11, 2024, at the 28th Lima Film Festival, on November 27, 2024, at the 39th Mar del Plata International Film Festival, on December 14, 2025, at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala, on March 17, 2025, at the 28th Málaga Film Festival, on March 31, 2025, at the 64th Cartagena Film Festival, on April 8, 2025, at the Festival cinéma du monde de Sherbrooke, on April 9, 2025, at the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival, in Canada on April 13, 2025 by TIFF Next Wave, and on May 24, 2025, at the 12th Latin American Film Festival.
The film was released commercially on August 29, 2024, in Chilean theaters, on October 17, 2024, in Bolivian theaters, on May 15, 2025, in Costa Rican theaters, and on August 14, 2025, in Ecuadorian theaters.
Accolades Award / FestivalCeremony dateCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.Tribeca Film Festival13 June 2024Best International Narrative FeatureThe Dog ThiefGuadalajara International Film Festival15 June 2024Best Ibero-American Fiction Feature FilmNew Actor - Special MentionFranklin AroFilmfest München6 July 2024CineVision AwardThe Dog ThiefLima Film Festival17 August 2024Best PictureSpecial Jury PrizeSantiago International Film Festival25 August 2024Best Film – International CompetitionBest Performance – International CompetitionFranklin AroAntalya Golden Orange Film Festival14 October 2024Best International Feature FilmThe Dog ThiefBest Director – International CompetitionVinko TomičićBest ActorFranklin AroMar del Plata International Film Festival1 December 2024Latin-American Competition - Best FilmThe Dog ThiefHavana Film Festival13 December 2024Best Fiction Feature FilmBest ScreenplayVinko TomičićForqué Awards14 December 2024Best Latin-American FilmThe Dog ThiefMálaga Film Festival23 March 2025Best Latin-American FilmMiami Film Festival14 April 2025MARIMBAS AwardPlatino Awards27 April 2025Best Ibero-American Debut FilmVinko TomičićFilm and Values EducationAriel Awards20 September 2025Best Ibero-American FilmThe Dog ThiefPedro Sienna Awards26 September 2025Best Fiction Feature FilmBest DirectorVinko TomicicBest ScreenplayBest CinematographySergio Armstrong
References
External links
Official Page