
Luis von Ahn Visionary Award
Honoring Outstanding Citizens building a brighter future for Guatemala
The Luis von Ahn Visionary Award celebrates extraordinary individuals who, with their talent, innovation, and commitment, are transforming Guatemala. We recognize those, from diverse backgrounds, who demonstrate that purposeful leadership can pave the way for a more just, free, and inclusive country.
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This award is more than recognition: it is an invitation to dream big and to build, together, a future in which ideas become realities that improve lives. Learn about the selection criteria here .​
Disclaimer
The Luis von Ahn Foundation confers the Premio Visionario Luis von Ahn on individual recipients in recognition of their personal vision, leadership, and contributions. The Award is granted to individuals only, and does not imply endorsement of, or affiliation with, the organizations, institutions, or employers with which the awardees may be associated.
Meet the 2025 Winners
We are proud to present the winners of the 2025 Luis von Ahn Visionary Award.

Meet Jayro
A visionary filmmaker redefining Guatemalan cinema for the world.
Field: Film
Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Biography & Work
Jayro Bustamante is a renowned Guatemalan film director, producer, and writer. He studied social communication at the University of San Carlos and film in Paris and Rome. In 2009, he founded "La Casa de Producción" in Guatemala, boosting independent cinema in the region.
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His first feature film, Ixcanul (2015), won a Silver Bear in Berlin and more than 60 international awards. In 2018, he founded the production company Les Films Du Volcan and received a Medal of Honor from the French Senate. He also created the Ixcanul Foundation to promote educational cinema in Guatemala.
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He continued his career with Temblores (2019) and La Llorona (2019), which was nominated for a Golden Globe. In 2021, he established the region’s first writers’ workshop, and in 2022 he directed Cordillera de Fuego (pending release). He has worked with major studios such as Disney and Apple TV. His most recent film, Rita, premiered in 2024, marking a milestone as Guatemala’s first co-production with Hollywood. He is currently working on several films, series, and documentaries, and his next project, El Sombrerón, will begin shooting at the end of 2025.
Selection Criteria
Candidates were evaluated based on their demonstrated impact, potential for future contributions, and alignment with the values of Luis von Ahn. Specific criteria included:
Professional Career and Merit
Outstanding achievements and significant contributions in your field.
Honorability and Civic Responsibility
Visionary Leadership and Excellence
Inspiration in Building a Prosperous Future for Guatemala
Integrity, ethics, and respect for democratic values.
Ability to inspire, mobilize, and generate long-term impact.
Work that promotes opportunity, equity, and well-being for more people.
Special Category: Young Leader
Created to highlight young people—under 25—who, without having a long career or significant media visibility, are leaving a profound mark on their communities. We recognize emerging leaders who represent the energy, creativity, and determination necessary to improve the future of Guatemala.
Selection Process
Our selection process is rigorous and transparent.
It all begins with an open call for applications through the Foundation's website, where anyone can nominate a candidate. We then conduct an initial screening to verify minimum requirements, evaluating the proposals based on the form received.
The Foundation team then evaluates each application using an evaluation sheet containing the selection criteria. In a second stage, a panel of independent external experts repeats the evaluation to ensure impartiality.
The internal and external scores are combined to identify the finalists with the highest scores. This list is presented to the Foundation's Board of Directors, which makes the final decision.
In the second edition of the Award (2025), we received 74 nominations from the public. After this rigorous process, five winners were selected. We invite those who nominated candidates this year and were not selected to participate again in 2026: nominations begin in January 2026.