A slum dweller from one of Buenos Aires' toughest neighbourhoods has made his cinematic debut in a breakout film that looks to challenge negative stereotypes and build hope for change among the city's poorest people.

"Diagnosis Hope" is the title of the film that has critics buzzing.

Directed by Cesar Gonzalez, it's a semi-autobiographical story that follows the life of former teen inmate Alex as he attempts to break out of a life of stark poverty in one of Latin America's most unequal capitals.

With the film's plot paralleling his own life, Gonzalez said he would not have escaped poverty without hard work and determination.

SOUNDBITE, Cesar Gonzalez, director, saying (English):

"To motivate myself to make a movie, I worked a lot first. I was studying a lot, editing, photography, camera work, as well as the history of cinema. I also studied for a couple of years at Buenos Aires University and there's everything I read when I was in prison."

The tough