The OTI Festival 1997 (, ) was the 26th edition of the OTI Festival. It consisted of a semi-final on 24 October and a final on 25 October 1997, held at in Lima, Peru, and presented by Jorge Beleván and Claudia Doig. It was organised by the (OTI) and host broadcaster (CPR).
Broadcasters from twenty-two countries participated in the festival. The winner was the song "", written by Francisco Curiel and José Manuel Fernández, and performed by Iridián representing Mexico; with "", written by Mario Campos Sandoval, and performed by Erick León representing Costa Rica, placing second; and "", written by Santiago Vargas, and performed by Dúo La Plata representing Spain, placing third.
Location
The (OTI) designated the (CPR) as the host broadcaster for the 26th edition of the OTI Festival. The broadcaster staged the event in Lima. The location selected was that is the main public square of the historic centre of the city. This was the second time the festival was held outdoors, being the first the 1995 edition.
Participants Broadcasters from twenty-two countries participated in this edition of the OTI festival. The OTI members, public or private broadcasters from Spain, Portugal, and twenty Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries of Ibero-America signed up for the festival. All the countries that participated the previous edition returned.
Some of the participating broadcasters, such as those representing Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Mexico, selected their entries through their regular national televised competitions. Other broadcasters decided to select their entry internally.
+ Participants of the OTI Festival 1997 Country Broadcaster(s) Song Artist Songwriter(s) Language Conductor Argentina "" Raúl Lavié Spanish Víctor Salazar Bolivia "" Grissel Bolívar Vallejo Huáscar Bolívar Vallejo Spanish Huáscar Bolívar Vallejo Chile "" Rachel Alejandro Afani Spanish Colombia "" Andrés Cabas Spanish Costa Rica Repretel "" Erick León Mario Campos Sandoval Spanish Álvaro Esquivel Cuba ICRT "" Tania Tania Samuel Concepción Spanish Víctor Salazar Dominican Republic "" Audrey Campos Manuel Jiménez Spanish Manuel Tejada Ecuador "" Luis Caicedo Spanish Claudio Jácome Harb El Salvador TCS "" Rafael Alfaro Rafael Alfaro Spanish Víctor Salazar Guatemala "" Fernando Scheel Spanish Roberto Estrada Honduras "" Tony Castellanos Spanish Mexico Televisa "" Iridián Spanish Pedro Alberto Cárdenas Nicaragua "" Keyla Spanish Panama "" Ricardo y Alberto Spanish Paraguay "" Cecilia Kunert Augusto Barreto Spanish Peru CPR "" Fabiola de la Cuba A. Aguirre Spanish Víctor Salazar Portugal RTP "" Portuguese Víctor Salazar Puerto Rico Telemundo Puerto Rico "" Ángel Joel Peña Spanish Ángel "Cucco" Peña Berdiel Spain TVE "" Dúo La Plata Santiago Vargas Spanish Víctor Salazar United States Univision "" Luis Damón Spanish Víctor Salazar Uruguay "" Javier Fernández Carlos Fernández Spanish Julio Frade Venezuela "" Félix Valentino Félix Valentino Spanish Alejandro Salas
Festival overview The festival consisted of a semi-final on Friday 24 October and a final on Saturday 25 October 1997, beginning at 20:00 PET (01:00+1 UTC). It was presented by Jorge Beleván and Claudia Doig. The musical director was Víctor Salazar, who conducted the 60-piece orchestra when required. The twenty-two participating entries were performed in the semi-final, of which only ten advanced to the final, with Peru having a guaranteed place in the final as the host country. The stage featured a large colorful backdrop in the semi-final, which was removed for the final, revealing the water fountain and the Metropolitan Cathedral behind it. The final featured a guest performance by Chayanne.
The winner was the song "", written by Francisco Curiel and José Manuel Fernández, and performed by Iridián representing Mexico; with "", written by Mario Campos Sandoval, and performed by Erick León representing Costa Rica, placing second; and "", written by Santiago Vargas, and performed by Dúo La Plata representing Spain, placing third. The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.
+ Results of the final of the OTI Festival 1997 Country Song Artist Place 2 Chile "" Rachel 3 Paraguay "" Cecilia Kunert 8 Costa Rica "" Erick León 2 Argentina "" Raúl Lavié Cuba "" Tania Tania Dominican Republic "" Audrey Campos Mexico "" Iridián 1 Peru "" Fabiola de la Cuba Spain "" Dúo La Plata 3 Venezuela "" Félix Valentino
Jury The members of a single jury selected their favourite songs in a secret vote. In the final only the top three places were revealed. The members of the jury were: Los del Ríosinger-songwriters Yurisinger, represented Mexico in 1984 Delia Fialloscreenwriter Kike Santandersongwriter singer Luis Aguilésinger-songwriters Jordi Gómez Llunassinger Claudia DopftMiss Peru 1997
Broadcast The festival was broadcast in the 22 participating countries where the corresponding OTI member broadcasters relayed the contest through their networks after receiving it live via satellite.
Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators are shown in the tables below.
+ Broadcasters and commentators in participating countries Country Broadcaster Channel(s) Commentator(s) Repretel Final rowspan="2" CPR América Televisión All shows TVE All shows José Luis Uribarri
References