This paper discusses the implementation process of Santa Fé Cinematographic Institute at University of Litoral, in Argentina, concomitantly with a period of crisis in the Latin American cinematography. It identifies the influence of both Cinematography Experimental Centre of Rome - where its director and founder, Fernando Birri, had studied - and the School of English documentarists, directed by John Grierson. It also demonstrates the creativity of its participants in adapting international cinematographic proposals to Latin American societies and linking them to leftist cultural proposals of the 1950's. Moreover, it points out the singularity of its cinematographic production method and the relationship of the Institute with local communities.
Latin America; Cinema; History