Panama Limbo

A towel, a deodorant, a small medical notebook… In Lajas Blancas, Panama, time seems to stand still. For weeks, migrants heading north are held in what was once a humanitarian reception center.

This animated short film follows a Venezuelan man during his forced stay, tracing his experience through a handful of objects he carries with him. Gradually assembled into a personal kit, these items become quiet companions that absorb the weight of stagnation, support endurance, and hold fragments of memory. Days repeat in slow succession. Time stretches, stalls, folds back on itself. The mind wanders, sometimes returning to the violence of the jungle crossing, sometimes turning toward potential escapes.

Release: Summer 2026

Written and directed by Nora Doukkali

Illustrated by Sandy Pitetti

Animated by Anastasia Moschona

Based on the testimonies of Juan Torres (name has been changed)

To go further: Read this article in El Pais.