Pancho Lombardi – Biography of Pancho Lombardi

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Francisco Jose Lombardi, better known as Pancho lombardi, was born in the department of Tacna, Peru, on August 3, 1949. He did his primary studies in the city where he was born and secondary school was in the capital, Lima, in the great school unit of the Immaculate. In this house of studies he published his first film reviews, in the school magazine “Cine Estudio”, published, at that time, in mimeograph. It was these publications that would lead the way with the editorial group of the film critic magazine “Hablemos de Cine”, publishing several critical texts.

Upon completing his school studies, he decided to study in Argentina, at the Universidad del Litoral Film School in Santa Fe. When this institution was intervened by the military government of Ongania, he returned to Peru, to continue his film studies at the University from Lima. A few years after living in Lima, he founded “Inca Films Productions” next to Jose Zavala Rey de Castro and in 1974, he began filming short films, among which the following stand out: Across the Light, Dark Alley, and Time Out.

He also stood out as a producer, making short films of Augusto Tamayo, Aldo salvini , Pablo guevara , Lucho Barrios and other directors more.

His debut directing feature films he does with Death at dawn in 1977, due to the success obtained, Immortal Tales an episode film with Augusto Tamayo, Jose Carlos Huayhuaca Y Pili Flores Guerra. That would be the great start for Pancho, who until today has made fifteen feature films, most of them in co-production with Spain, with the producer Gerardo Herrero.

Many years later in 2003, he decided to work independently and left Producciones Inca Films.

Lombardi has been recognized for work with various tributes and retrospectives in various forums internationally. Has been in the Festivals in Havana, Freiburg, Huesca and Trieste and the Lima Film Festival awarded him the highest award of the event the spondylus, as a tribute and as a way of recognizing his great career as a filmmaker. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch awarded him the “Irene Diamond, Lifetime AchievementAward“in 2004, due to his great commitment to human rights cinema.

He was also awarded, for his outstanding contribution to Latin American cinema and culture, the Medal of Order of Merit Pablo Neruda, delivered by the National Council of Culture and the Arts of Chile.

For some time now, Lombardi wanted to be a participant in the theatrical direction and so far he has staged four plays with extraordinary success. He has received awards for this new facet such as the one given him by the newspaper “El Comercio”, for “Best work of the year“and another for being considered the”Best Director“as far as theatrical works are concerned.

But he has not only dedicated himself to productions and directions in the cultural field, Francisco Lombardi, always a sports fan, was President of the Sporting Cristal football club, at the time when he became a three-time professional soccer champion, during the years 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1997 this team played the final of the Copa Libertadores de América.

Was chosen Vice President of the Peruvian Federation in 2003 and after finishing the U-17 Soccer World Championship and the America’s Cup, he resigned in 2005.

He is currently 61 years old and continues in his arduous cinematographic work, leaving the name of his country very high and being remembered for films such as: Under the skin, Do not tell anybody, Pantaleon and the visitors, Red ink, Black butterfly, among other.