Once Upon a Time in Panama

Once Upon a Time in Panama
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Elmis Castillo
Written by	Elmis Castillo
Produced by	Elmis Castillo Noa Levana
Starring	Elmis Castillo
Cinematography	Aaron Bromley
Edited by	Juan Zelaya
Music by	Eduardo Charry Rodrigo Denis
Release date	March 21, 2024 (2024-03-21)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Panama
Language	Spanish

Once Upon a Time in Panama (Spanish: Érase una vez en Panamá) is a 2024 Panamanian comedy film written, co-produced, starred and directed by Elmis Castillo.^[1] It premiered on March 21, 2024, in Panamanian theaters.^[2]

Ermisendo, a janitor, opens the door to his boss Domingo and is unjustly accused of the largest fentanyl theft in Panamanian history. This sends Ermisendo on the run until he meets Tito, a former bushrangers, who tells him his life story about how he managed to dismantle a child trafficking ring by doing the right thing. This inspires Ermisendo to confront those who framed him... but at what cost?^[3]

• Elmis Castillo as Ermisendo / Tito
• Luis Gotti as Don Tito
• Hermes Mendoza as Adonis / Ome
• Marcell Chávez as Machomonte
• Robert De Luca as Lombana Indigenous
• Diego De Obaldía as Doctor of Obaldía
• Mariano Abdel Gonzalez as Doctor Gonzalez
• Marelissa Him as Verónica
• Edward José as Policeman
• Domil Leira as Vernon
• Alex Mariscal as Domingo
• Gabriel Pérez Matteo as Nito
• Ivan Peña as Roux Indigenous
• RoChia as Don Mario
• Diego Ruzzarin as Doctor Ruzzarin
• Abdiel Tapia as Juan / Elephant Man
• Carlos Tibbet as Martin Indigenous
• Marcelo Villareal as Celador / Cholo
• Aaron Zebede as Doctor Gallego

Principal photography wrapped on January 9, 2024,^[4] lasting 18 days in Volcán Barú, Chorcha, and Bayano Caves.^[5][6]

In its second week in theaters, the film sold 30,000 tickets.^[7]

• Once Upon a Time in Panama at IMDb