Cuantos Somos?

Directed by Arturo Acevedo Vallarino

“How many are we?” (as written, with only a single question mark at the end and without the accent mark prescribed by the Academy) is a short promotional and educational sound film that sought to prepare the population for what would become the 1938 census, known as the “first modern census” of Colombia. The images of Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, and Quibdó reaffirm the quality of framing and composition that the Acevedo family left as the hallmark and legacy of their cinematic work. This short film is not referenced in the publications that have been produced about these pioneers of national cinema; it was only rediscovered in 2012 thanks to the work carried out by the Fundación Patrimonio Fílmico Colombiano within the framework of the Colombian Audiovisual Heritage Strengthening Program.