Chilean film and TV shows scored 309 awards around the world in 2023, CinemaChile announced in January. One month later, CinemaChile, the national promotion board, is turning 15 at Berlin. The consequence of longterm uninterrupted promotion of an industry must not be underestimated.
Over the last 15 years, film and TV have seen two seismic revolutions: Streamers’ Dtc distribution; the explosive rise of production levels across the globe.
The latter has left huge hostages to fortune, suddenly underscoring the significance of national support orgs such as CinemaChile. Below, 10 points on CinemaChile by way of introduction to the often ignored missing link in the latest evolution of the international independent industry: National film agencies.
Why National Film Agencies Are So Useful These Days
In 2005, Argentina released 74 features, Brazil 73, Mexico 33 and Chile 11. Cut to 2022, and those figures had skyrocketed respectively to 230, 173, 88 and 38, a 176% increase in collective levels from 191 films to 529. As slews of films challenge for sales and theatrical release abroad,...
Over the last 15 years, film and TV have seen two seismic revolutions: Streamers’ Dtc distribution; the explosive rise of production levels across the globe.
The latter has left huge hostages to fortune, suddenly underscoring the significance of national support orgs such as CinemaChile. Below, 10 points on CinemaChile by way of introduction to the often ignored missing link in the latest evolution of the international independent industry: National film agencies.
Why National Film Agencies Are So Useful These Days
In 2005, Argentina released 74 features, Brazil 73, Mexico 33 and Chile 11. Cut to 2022, and those figures had skyrocketed respectively to 230, 173, 88 and 38, a 176% increase in collective levels from 191 films to 529. As slews of films challenge for sales and theatrical release abroad,...
- 2/18/2024
- by John Hopewell and Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Mexico’s Mónica Lozano, producer of Alejandro González Iñarritu’s “Amores Perros” and Eugenio Derbéz’s “Instructions Not Included,” has boarded “Cepeda,” an envelope-pushing Mexico-set procedural, turning on a Mexican cop who’s an Indigenous woman and great at her job.
Development over the last two years has been financed by Acuña’s Chile-based Promocine. Put back, however, by the pandemic, the project is now set up at Lozano’s Mexico City production house Alebrije Producciones, one of Mexico’s most active forces in international production, behind Carlos Carrera’s Quirino Award winner “Ana y Bruno” and Fox’s “Run Coyote Run.”
“Cepeda” is written by Chile’s Julio Rojas, who has shot to global fame as creator of Podcast phenom “Caso 63.” Rojas also served as story editor on Lucía Puenzo’s “La Jauría,” and writer on Pablo Fendrik’s “El Refugio” and Matías Bize’s “The Life of Fish,...
Development over the last two years has been financed by Acuña’s Chile-based Promocine. Put back, however, by the pandemic, the project is now set up at Lozano’s Mexico City production house Alebrije Producciones, one of Mexico’s most active forces in international production, behind Carlos Carrera’s Quirino Award winner “Ana y Bruno” and Fox’s “Run Coyote Run.”
“Cepeda” is written by Chile’s Julio Rojas, who has shot to global fame as creator of Podcast phenom “Caso 63.” Rojas also served as story editor on Lucía Puenzo’s “La Jauría,” and writer on Pablo Fendrik’s “El Refugio” and Matías Bize’s “The Life of Fish,...
- 10/4/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Rotting in the Sun streams exclusively on Mubi (almost) globally starting September 15, 2023.This week's episode features:Sebastián Silva (Chile), a director, screenwriter, singer, and painter. Over the past fifteen years, he has established himself as one of the most singular and prolific voices in Latin American cinema. His filmography—consisting of eight feature films to date, and characterized by a bold, dark humor—talks about contemporary issues like the clash between social classes, racial struggle, and suicide.In 2009, his second feature film, The Maid, was the first Chilean film to be nominated for a Golden Globe for best international feature, and also won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Since then, many of Silva’s films have premiered at Sundance, including Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus, Tyrel, and Nasty Baby; the latter film won the Teddy Award at the Berlinale in 2015.Catalina Saavedra (Chile), a film, theater and television actress.
- 9/22/2023
- MUBI
Mexico’s Katina Medina Mora, director of Netflix hits ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Firefly Lane’ and Apple TV+ standout “Swagger,” is teaming with Chile’s Julio Rojas, creator of podcast phenom “Caso 63,” to direct and co-write with Rojas “Freeland.”
Medina Mora, Rojas and “Freeland” producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, will attend the San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 22, to present the project.
Longtime MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero will also serve as an executive producer on the film.
One of the most ambitious movies now in the works from Latin America and Spain, “Freeland” is set in America’s Midwest, and combines a teen first love romantic drama, a building thriller propulsion and the kind of anticipatory near future science fiction for which Rojas is hailed as a master.
Sparking a successful U.S. podcast remake starring Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac,...
Medina Mora, Rojas and “Freeland” producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, will attend the San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 22, to present the project.
Longtime MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero will also serve as an executive producer on the film.
One of the most ambitious movies now in the works from Latin America and Spain, “Freeland” is set in America’s Midwest, and combines a teen first love romantic drama, a building thriller propulsion and the kind of anticipatory near future science fiction for which Rojas is hailed as a master.
Sparking a successful U.S. podcast remake starring Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac,...
- 9/20/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Mexico’s Monterrey Film Festival (ficmonterrey) is chasing new ambitions in a bid to raise its international profile. Buttressed by generous state, local and private backing as well as some federal funding, the festival, running Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, aims to become Mexico’s most prominent international film festival and a key creative hub in Mexico.
This year’s 19th edition boasts a new director, Janeth Aguirre, also its first female director, and new hires: Diana Cadavid, a programmer for Toronto (TIFF), LA Latino Int’l Film Fest (Laliff) and Colombia’s Cali, who has taken charge of the festival’s burgeoning industry section, and LA-based PR agent Alvar Carretero of Joshua Jason Public Relations.
In recognition of its country guest of honor, South Korea, the fest will open with “Little Forest” by Yim Soonrye, one of the few prominent women film auteurs in South Korean New Wave cinema. Five of her...
This year’s 19th edition boasts a new director, Janeth Aguirre, also its first female director, and new hires: Diana Cadavid, a programmer for Toronto (TIFF), LA Latino Int’l Film Fest (Laliff) and Colombia’s Cali, who has taken charge of the festival’s burgeoning industry section, and LA-based PR agent Alvar Carretero of Joshua Jason Public Relations.
In recognition of its country guest of honor, South Korea, the fest will open with “Little Forest” by Yim Soonrye, one of the few prominent women film auteurs in South Korean New Wave cinema. Five of her...
- 9/11/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
The episode features:Rodrigo Sepúlveda (Chile), a writer, director and producer. Sepúlveda directed successful television productions in the ’80s and ’90s, but it wasn’t until 2002 that he made his feature-film debut. Since then, he has cultivated a humanist filmography that examines love and family ties, as well as the prejudices of Chilean society. In 2020, his film My Tender Matador (Tengo miedo, torero) premiered in Venice's parallel section, Giornate degli Autori. A successful adaptation of Pedro Lemebel's novel, the film stars Alfredo Castro in one of his most brilliant and memorable performances. Julieta Zylberberg (Argentina), an actress who has worked for over twenty years in film, series, television and theater. She made her film debut in The Holy Girl (La niña santa), Lucrecia Martel's second feature film.With sobriety and forcefulness, Zylberberg has played characters that reflect great ambiguity. She has starred in films such as Ana Katz...
- 8/24/2023
- MUBI
Chile’s at it again. Since’s Andrés Wood’s breakout “Machuca” in 2004, Chilean filmmakers, led by Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio and now Maite Alberdi, have punched consistently above the country’s weight, consistently winning plaudits at Sundance, Berlin and Cannes. Chile has also won three Oscars – for Claudio Miranda’s cinematography on 2012’s “Life of Pi,” 2015’s animated short “Bear Story” and Lelio’s 2017’s fiction feature “A Fantastic Woman” – more any other South American country apart from Argentina.
First half 2023 has proved no exception in Chile’s statue trawl. Some of the awards on offer are among the biggest out: Alberdi’s “The Eternal Memory,” from Fabula, scooped Sundance’s World Cinema Grand Prize; Andrés Wood’s “News of a Kidnapping” walked off with best series at the Platino Awards, the Spanish-speaking world’s nearest kudos fest to the Oscars.
In all, according to a CinemaChile study released during Sanfic,...
First half 2023 has proved no exception in Chile’s statue trawl. Some of the awards on offer are among the biggest out: Alberdi’s “The Eternal Memory,” from Fabula, scooped Sundance’s World Cinema Grand Prize; Andrés Wood’s “News of a Kidnapping” walked off with best series at the Platino Awards, the Spanish-speaking world’s nearest kudos fest to the Oscars.
In all, according to a CinemaChile study released during Sanfic,...
- 8/24/2023
- by John Hopewell, Anna Marie de la Fuente and Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
Chile’s preeminent scribe Julio Rojas, whose serial podcast “Case 63” was Spotify’s most popular podcast in Latin America and was adapted into English with Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac starring, is writing his first romcom after the global success of “Case 63.”
Titled “Detras de ti”, the upcoming project is being co-produced by Spain’s EvaFilms and David Naranjo’s Pris & Batty, best known for its hit comedies “8 apellidos vascos,” “8 apellidos catalanes” and “Toc toc.”
“Ever since I listened to ‘Case 63,’ I was very keen to work with Julio and bring his work to the big screen,” said Eva Cebrián of EvaFilms, adding: “Julio is an indisputable storyteller who has most understood the audio format, given his deep experience as a screenwriter.”
While Rojas has a predilection for sci-fi projects, Cebrián pointed out that romance was very much intrinsic to his work. “Detras de ti” will be a departure for Rojas,...
Titled “Detras de ti”, the upcoming project is being co-produced by Spain’s EvaFilms and David Naranjo’s Pris & Batty, best known for its hit comedies “8 apellidos vascos,” “8 apellidos catalanes” and “Toc toc.”
“Ever since I listened to ‘Case 63,’ I was very keen to work with Julio and bring his work to the big screen,” said Eva Cebrián of EvaFilms, adding: “Julio is an indisputable storyteller who has most understood the audio format, given his deep experience as a screenwriter.”
While Rojas has a predilection for sci-fi projects, Cebrián pointed out that romance was very much intrinsic to his work. “Detras de ti” will be a departure for Rojas,...
- 5/11/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Beijing Basks In Festival Return
The Argentina-Chile coproduction “The Punishment,” directed by Matias Bize, was named best feature over the weekend at the close of the Beijing International Film Festival.
Mexico’s Lila Avilés won the Tiantan Award for best director for her film “Totem.” Antonia Zegers and Line Renaud shared the best actress award for “The Punishment” and “Driving Madeleine,” respectively.
The best actor award went to Xin Baiqing for Chinese movie “The Shadowless Tower.” The film, which premiered in February in Berlin, was the numerical winner. With the best screenplay, music, cinematography and artistic contribution awards, it won a total of five prizes.
Chinese actor and director Tian Zhuangzhuang collected the best supporting actor award. Mexican, Montserrat Maranon earned the best supporting actress prize.
The ceremony wrapped up a festival at which organizers claimed to have played 1,488 films. International guests included Israel’s Nadav Lapid, Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck...
The Argentina-Chile coproduction “The Punishment,” directed by Matias Bize, was named best feature over the weekend at the close of the Beijing International Film Festival.
Mexico’s Lila Avilés won the Tiantan Award for best director for her film “Totem.” Antonia Zegers and Line Renaud shared the best actress award for “The Punishment” and “Driving Madeleine,” respectively.
The best actor award went to Xin Baiqing for Chinese movie “The Shadowless Tower.” The film, which premiered in February in Berlin, was the numerical winner. With the best screenplay, music, cinematography and artistic contribution awards, it won a total of five prizes.
Chinese actor and director Tian Zhuangzhuang collected the best supporting actor award. Mexican, Montserrat Maranon earned the best supporting actress prize.
The ceremony wrapped up a festival at which organizers claimed to have played 1,488 films. International guests included Israel’s Nadav Lapid, Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck...
- 5/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
26th edition wrapped on Sunday.
Estíbaliz Urresola’s 20,000 Species Of Bees and Kattia G. Zúñiga’s Sister & Sister won top awards at 2023 Málaga Film Festival, taking best Spanish film and best Latin American film, respectively, as the Andalusian event closed on Sunday.
In other key awards at the festival’s 26th edition, Gerardo Herrero’s Under Therapy earned a special jury prize director and Matías Bize claimed the best director prize for The Punishment.
20,000 Species Of Bees won the Berlin Silver Bear for best leading performance for young Sofía Otero last month and added the Golden Biznaga for...
Estíbaliz Urresola’s 20,000 Species Of Bees and Kattia G. Zúñiga’s Sister & Sister won top awards at 2023 Málaga Film Festival, taking best Spanish film and best Latin American film, respectively, as the Andalusian event closed on Sunday.
In other key awards at the festival’s 26th edition, Gerardo Herrero’s Under Therapy earned a special jury prize director and Matías Bize claimed the best director prize for The Punishment.
20,000 Species Of Bees won the Berlin Silver Bear for best leading performance for young Sofía Otero last month and added the Golden Biznaga for...
- 3/19/2023
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren’s celebrated Spanish feature “20,000 Species of Bees” and Kattia G. Zúñiga’s Panamanian drama “Sister & Sister” took the top prizes at the Malaga Film Festival, garnering the Golden Biznagas for Spanish and Latin American pictures respectively.
“20,000 Species of Bees” also won best supporting actress for Patricia López Arnaiz and picked up the Spanish Cinematographic Informers Association’s Feroz Puerta Oscura award. The film’s success follows two awards in Berlin, including a Silver Bear for Sofía Otero for her portrayal of a young girl going through a gender crisis.
For Zúñiga, the Golden Biznaga is sure to help further propel “Sister & Sister,” an autobiographical story about two teenage sisters who travel from Costa Rica to Panama in search of their absent father. Pic drew upbeat reviews in Malaga following on its SXSW world premiere.
Also making waves at the Malaga Festival, which runs...
“20,000 Species of Bees” also won best supporting actress for Patricia López Arnaiz and picked up the Spanish Cinematographic Informers Association’s Feroz Puerta Oscura award. The film’s success follows two awards in Berlin, including a Silver Bear for Sofía Otero for her portrayal of a young girl going through a gender crisis.
For Zúñiga, the Golden Biznaga is sure to help further propel “Sister & Sister,” an autobiographical story about two teenage sisters who travel from Costa Rica to Panama in search of their absent father. Pic drew upbeat reviews in Malaga following on its SXSW world premiere.
Also making waves at the Malaga Festival, which runs...
- 3/18/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
The festival opens on March 10 and will include super-sized industry progrramme Mafiz.
The 26th edition of the Malaga Film Festival kicks off today, giving the Spanish and international industry the chance to discover the latest films and talent emerging from the local and Latin America landscapes.
Twenty films will screen in the main competition. They include new films from returning Malaga filmmaker Elena Trapé, who won the best film and best director award in 2018 for The Distances. She’s in competition with a drama called The Enchanced, starring Laia Costa, about a young mother who has recently separated and is missing her young daughter.
The 26th edition of the Malaga Film Festival kicks off today, giving the Spanish and international industry the chance to discover the latest films and talent emerging from the local and Latin America landscapes.
Twenty films will screen in the main competition. They include new films from returning Malaga filmmaker Elena Trapé, who won the best film and best director award in 2018 for The Distances. She’s in competition with a drama called The Enchanced, starring Laia Costa, about a young mother who has recently separated and is missing her young daughter.
- 3/10/2023
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
Spanish sales company to handle Spanish director’s third feature.
Spanish sales company Bendita Films has acquired international rights to Lois Patiño’s third feature Samsara, which plays in the Berlinale’s Encounters section
Samsara is a Sanskrit word referring to the cycle of birth, life, death and re-incarnation. Patiño’s film travels from the temples of Laos to the beaches of Zanzibar, accompanying a soul in transit from one body to another.
Patiño’s Red Moon Tide premiered in the Berlinale Forum in 2020 while Coast of Death won the best emerging director prize at Locarno in 2013. His short film...
Spanish sales company Bendita Films has acquired international rights to Lois Patiño’s third feature Samsara, which plays in the Berlinale’s Encounters section
Samsara is a Sanskrit word referring to the cycle of birth, life, death and re-incarnation. Patiño’s film travels from the temples of Laos to the beaches of Zanzibar, accompanying a soul in transit from one body to another.
Patiño’s Red Moon Tide premiered in the Berlinale Forum in 2020 while Coast of Death won the best emerging director prize at Locarno in 2013. His short film...
- 2/7/2023
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Tenerife-based Bendita Film Sales, headed by Luis Renart, has acquired Matías Bize’s “The Punishment,”, ahead of its international premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival this Saturday.
Produced by Ceneca Producciones and Leyenda Films, it is the second film to see the light in 2022 for the multi-prized director of “In the Bed,” “The Life of Fish,” and “The Memory of Water,” having won at Malaga with lockdown inspired “Private Messages.” Bendita’s buy signifies confidence in this latest title, which heads to Ventana Sur for its market premiere on Dec 1.
In the film, a couple’s seven year old son is missing, having been left momentarily by the side of the road as punishment. Set in a forest and played out in real time, the boy’s parents search for him. Helmer Matias Bize dissects the subtle shifts in the couple’s reactions to this crisis as questions...
Produced by Ceneca Producciones and Leyenda Films, it is the second film to see the light in 2022 for the multi-prized director of “In the Bed,” “The Life of Fish,” and “The Memory of Water,” having won at Malaga with lockdown inspired “Private Messages.” Bendita’s buy signifies confidence in this latest title, which heads to Ventana Sur for its market premiere on Dec 1.
In the film, a couple’s seven year old son is missing, having been left momentarily by the side of the road as punishment. Set in a forest and played out in real time, the boy’s parents search for him. Helmer Matias Bize dissects the subtle shifts in the couple’s reactions to this crisis as questions...
- 11/17/2022
- by Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
The line-up features 19 world premieres, including J.-P. Valkeapää’s ‘Hit Big’ and three Ukranian productions.
Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has unveiled the full line-up for its official selection, featuring 19 world premieres, with the festival set to run from November 11-27.
World premieres include Finnish director J.-P. Valkeapää’s Hit Big, a Finland-Estonia-Spain co-production. Valkeapää’s credits include Dogs Wear Pants and They Have Escaped. The new film is about a Finnish former beauty pageant star, who left Finland for Spain’s Costa del Sol, finds her family’s murky criminal past starts to unravel. Charades is handling sales.
Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has unveiled the full line-up for its official selection, featuring 19 world premieres, with the festival set to run from November 11-27.
World premieres include Finnish director J.-P. Valkeapää’s Hit Big, a Finland-Estonia-Spain co-production. Valkeapää’s credits include Dogs Wear Pants and They Have Escaped. The new film is about a Finnish former beauty pageant star, who left Finland for Spain’s Costa del Sol, finds her family’s murky criminal past starts to unravel. Charades is handling sales.
- 10/20/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Features include Albania’s entry to the Oscars.
Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 11-27) has announced the first seven films in its main competition strand, including Albania’s entry for the Oscars.
Gentian Koçi’s A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On was announced as Albania’s submission for the best international feature Oscar last week and will receive its world premiere at the festival.
Inspired by a true story, it follows identical deaf-mute twin brothers in their 40s who must contend with progressively losing their sense of sight. It marks Koçi’s second feature after Daybreak,...
Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 11-27) has announced the first seven films in its main competition strand, including Albania’s entry for the Oscars.
Gentian Koçi’s A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On was announced as Albania’s submission for the best international feature Oscar last week and will receive its world premiere at the festival.
Inspired by a true story, it follows identical deaf-mute twin brothers in their 40s who must contend with progressively losing their sense of sight. It marks Koçi’s second feature after Daybreak,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
In an early scene in Episode One of Pablo Fendrik’s “The Shelter” which is suffused in oneiric chromatic blue, Emilia, a little girl in bed at night, spies a figure down a corridor who looks like her dead older sister, Daniela.
Following her to a barn door, Emilia enters to discover its chicken slaughtered as a huge light flares in the night sky outside. Emilia wakes up. Next days, the chicken are discovered slaughtered in the barn.
Bowing on Pantaya and Starzplay on June 23, six-hour sci-fi series “The Shelter” (“El refugio”) is the first major premium sci-fi TV series from Latin America. That tells. Classic sci-fi flowered after the unbelievable horror of World War II, showing humankind defeating an alien enemy through courage and the force of reason.
What could a Latin American sci-fi series look like 75 years later? “The Shelter” gives one answer, which having grabbed the viewer in early stretches,...
Following her to a barn door, Emilia enters to discover its chicken slaughtered as a huge light flares in the night sky outside. Emilia wakes up. Next days, the chicken are discovered slaughtered in the barn.
Bowing on Pantaya and Starzplay on June 23, six-hour sci-fi series “The Shelter” (“El refugio”) is the first major premium sci-fi TV series from Latin America. That tells. Classic sci-fi flowered after the unbelievable horror of World War II, showing humankind defeating an alien enemy through courage and the force of reason.
What could a Latin American sci-fi series look like 75 years later? “The Shelter” gives one answer, which having grabbed the viewer in early stretches,...
- 6/27/2022
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano Granada
- Variety Film + TV
Two hotly-favored competition frontrunners, Spain’s motherhood-focused “Lullaby” and “Utama,” shot on an awe-inspiring Bolivian Altiplano, swept the board at a historic, 25th Málaga Film Festival which said a lot about the current state of the Spanish film industry.
Running March 18-26, the Festival proved a vibrant affair, galvanised by renewed interest in the Spanish cinema after a buoyant reception for its major movies at Berlin, as well as the joy of proving the first time many industry attendees had seen each other in person in two years and backing from Spain’s Avs Hub plan for a vastly larger industry presence.
In Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s “Lullaby,” coming after Sundance hit “Piggy” and Carla Simón’s Berlin Golden Bear triumph “Alcarrás,” Spain would look to have a third art pic breakout in just the first three months of 2022, all driven by a young generation of women cineastes, directors and producers.
Running March 18-26, the Festival proved a vibrant affair, galvanised by renewed interest in the Spanish cinema after a buoyant reception for its major movies at Berlin, as well as the joy of proving the first time many industry attendees had seen each other in person in two years and backing from Spain’s Avs Hub plan for a vastly larger industry presence.
In Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s “Lullaby,” coming after Sundance hit “Piggy” and Carla Simón’s Berlin Golden Bear triumph “Alcarrás,” Spain would look to have a third art pic breakout in just the first three months of 2022, all driven by a young generation of women cineastes, directors and producers.
- 3/26/2022
- by John Hopewell and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Chilean filmmaker Matías Bize’s pandemic-prompted film “Private Messages” will be part of the Official Selection at the 2022 Malaga Film Festival, and the feature dives face-first into the stories which make us human, vulnerable and strong.
Bize, who won a Spanish Academy Goya for his Variety-championed film “The Life of the Fish” in 2011, uses self-filmed footage of the film’s international cast confessing their most intimate stories during 2020’s global lockdowns, which coincided with filming.
“Private Messages” pieces its narrative together carefully, the truth of its storytellers overlaid with original music, and culminating in a powerful ending which memorializes the power of rebirth.
Variety spoke to Bize ahead of his film’s premiere at Malaga.
Covid was the impetus for “Private Messages,” but what else inspired the film?
This film was born on the first day of the pandemic’s confinement. I was in Mexico City, and I thought: I...
Bize, who won a Spanish Academy Goya for his Variety-championed film “The Life of the Fish” in 2011, uses self-filmed footage of the film’s international cast confessing their most intimate stories during 2020’s global lockdowns, which coincided with filming.
“Private Messages” pieces its narrative together carefully, the truth of its storytellers overlaid with original music, and culminating in a powerful ending which memorializes the power of rebirth.
Variety spoke to Bize ahead of his film’s premiere at Malaga.
Covid was the impetus for “Private Messages,” but what else inspired the film?
This film was born on the first day of the pandemic’s confinement. I was in Mexico City, and I thought: I...
- 3/21/2022
- by JD Linville
- Variety Film + TV
The event is a major showcase of Spanish and Latin American content to the international market.
The world premiere of Jorge Coira’s Codigo Emperador, starring Luis Tosar, opens the 25th edition of the Málaga Film Festival (Mff) today (March 18), marking the first time the Spanish and Latin American-focused event has run in-person for two years. The spy thriiller also opens in Spain today.
Roberto Bueso’s Full Of Grace is the closing night film, screening out of competition.
Codigo Emperador is playing in competition along with Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s directorial debut Lullaby, starring Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez,...
The world premiere of Jorge Coira’s Codigo Emperador, starring Luis Tosar, opens the 25th edition of the Málaga Film Festival (Mff) today (March 18), marking the first time the Spanish and Latin American-focused event has run in-person for two years. The spy thriiller also opens in Spain today.
Roberto Bueso’s Full Of Grace is the closing night film, screening out of competition.
Codigo Emperador is playing in competition along with Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s directorial debut Lullaby, starring Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez,...
- 3/18/2022
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
Global streamer Starzplay and L.A.-based Spanish-language streaming platform Pantaya have re-teamed with U.K. production-distribution giant Fremantle and the Larraín brothers’ Fabula on sci-fi miniseries “The Shelter” (“El Refugio”).
Starring Alberto Guerra (“La Jauria”) and Ana Claudia Talancón (“Como Caído del Cielo”) and directed by Argentina’s Pablo Fendrik (“El Ardor”), “The Shelter” wraps principal photography this week after 10 weeks of filming in rural areas around Santiago de Chile.
In industry terms, “The Shelter” forms part of a burgeoning axis between like-minded and complementary players in the U.S., Latin America and the U.K. who have been involved in some of the most exciting, relevant and artistically ambitious of recent Spanish-language dramas hitting screens or in the pipeline, whether “La Jauría,” “Señorita 89” – where all four companies partner – or “Express.”
The series captures Fendrik on tremendous TV form after making “Amongst Men” and “The Bronze Garden,” both for HBO Latin America.
Starring Alberto Guerra (“La Jauria”) and Ana Claudia Talancón (“Como Caído del Cielo”) and directed by Argentina’s Pablo Fendrik (“El Ardor”), “The Shelter” wraps principal photography this week after 10 weeks of filming in rural areas around Santiago de Chile.
In industry terms, “The Shelter” forms part of a burgeoning axis between like-minded and complementary players in the U.S., Latin America and the U.K. who have been involved in some of the most exciting, relevant and artistically ambitious of recent Spanish-language dramas hitting screens or in the pipeline, whether “La Jauría,” “Señorita 89” – where all four companies partner – or “Express.”
The series captures Fendrik on tremendous TV form after making “Amongst Men” and “The Bronze Garden,” both for HBO Latin America.
- 9/17/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
“Forget My Name,” “Life” and “Stolen Kids” proved some of the big winners at the 2021 Conecta Fiction awards ceremony in Pamplona, northern Spain on Wednesday night as the Europe-Latin America co-production forum reached its climax.
A female spy drama-thriller charged emotionally by an effective mother-daughter relationship, “Forget My Name” won one of the most enticing awards on offer: A development contract with Spanish public broadcaster Rtve. Set up at Avi Films, the series represents the latest screenplay from Argentine but Spain-based Jesica Arán and partner Juan Lombardi at Spain’s Avi Films.
“‘ER’ meets ’24,’” says co-creator Alberto Macías at Mediacrest Entertainment, “Life” sees medics racing against the clock after a massive car crash to get organs to transplant patients in hospitals in Barcelona, Paris and Madrid. Its Spanish Film Commission prize repped the first of two statues on Wednesday night for go-ahead indie production-distribution house Mediacrest, its teen gender violence...
A female spy drama-thriller charged emotionally by an effective mother-daughter relationship, “Forget My Name” won one of the most enticing awards on offer: A development contract with Spanish public broadcaster Rtve. Set up at Avi Films, the series represents the latest screenplay from Argentine but Spain-based Jesica Arán and partner Juan Lombardi at Spain’s Avi Films.
“‘ER’ meets ’24,’” says co-creator Alberto Macías at Mediacrest Entertainment, “Life” sees medics racing against the clock after a massive car crash to get organs to transplant patients in hospitals in Barcelona, Paris and Madrid. Its Spanish Film Commission prize repped the first of two statues on Wednesday night for go-ahead indie production-distribution house Mediacrest, its teen gender violence...
- 9/15/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Chile’s Matías Bize, the multi-prized director of “In the Bed,” “The Life of Fish” and “The Memory of Water,” is attached to direct “The Stolen Kids” (“Niños de Contrabando”), a family drama straddling Chile and Europe set up at María Wood Producciones and MegaMedia, the latter part-owned by Discovery Networks Latin America.
A true-life inspired series, “The Stolen Kids” will be presented on Tuesday at Pamplona’s Conecta Fiction, the Europe-Latin America TV series co-production forum. It features as one of the 10 projects chosen for the event’s main Copro Series competition.
Relaunched in 2020 by Wood, producer of Turner’s “Mary & Mike” and Joyn’s “Dignity,” Maria Wood Producciones look set to focus, as in past series produced by Wood, on premium scripted drama of substance, with a social or political underbelly and frequent recourse to creative film talent.
That describes “The Stolen Kids” to a tee. In it,...
A true-life inspired series, “The Stolen Kids” will be presented on Tuesday at Pamplona’s Conecta Fiction, the Europe-Latin America TV series co-production forum. It features as one of the 10 projects chosen for the event’s main Copro Series competition.
Relaunched in 2020 by Wood, producer of Turner’s “Mary & Mike” and Joyn’s “Dignity,” Maria Wood Producciones look set to focus, as in past series produced by Wood, on premium scripted drama of substance, with a social or political underbelly and frequent recourse to creative film talent.
That describes “The Stolen Kids” to a tee. In it,...
- 9/13/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
As this week’s 10th Sanfic Industria comes to a close with prize announcements, Chile’s Sanfic – the Santiago Intl. Film Festival – has unveiled first details of its 2021 festival edition, which runs Aug. 15-22.
Organized by Fundación CorpArtes and produced by Storyboard Media, for the second year running 2021’s edition will take place entirely online, with the call for applications opening March 26, said Sanfic artistic director and founder Carlos Nuñez, a partner at Storyboard Media.
This year’s 17th Sanfic will maintain all of 2020’s initiatives including a Women Directors in Focus strand, framing first, second, third and even fourth features from all over the world.
It will also continue its traditional three major competitive strands: an International Competition, a Chilean Cinema Competition and a Chilean Short Films/Local Talent Competition, Nuñez said.
The Festival will screen about 100 titles between features and short films, up from 84 in 2020, he added. The...
Organized by Fundación CorpArtes and produced by Storyboard Media, for the second year running 2021’s edition will take place entirely online, with the call for applications opening March 26, said Sanfic artistic director and founder Carlos Nuñez, a partner at Storyboard Media.
This year’s 17th Sanfic will maintain all of 2020’s initiatives including a Women Directors in Focus strand, framing first, second, third and even fourth features from all over the world.
It will also continue its traditional three major competitive strands: an International Competition, a Chilean Cinema Competition and a Chilean Short Films/Local Talent Competition, Nuñez said.
The Festival will screen about 100 titles between features and short films, up from 84 in 2020, he added. The...
- 3/26/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
A bit of luck and a bit of good planning has seen Spanish arthouse production company Potenza Films board upcoming historical drama “The Cardinal” in a now four-country co-production with Chile’s Storyboard Media, Argentina’s Magma Cine and Brazil’s Gullane.
Already a massive period drama proposal from the Latin American producers, the Covid-19 pandemic would have been a much greater threat to production had Potenza not joined.
“This was key because it allowed us to complete our financing structure in spite of the global pandemic,” Storyboard’s Gabriela Sandoval explained to Variety. “Turning this into a feature will involve artistic and technical teams from four countries, and fulfills our original desired production model.”
Following pitching conversations at last year’s San Sebastian, where the film was one of the Co-Production Forum’s big hits, the film’s previously confirmed production team were approached by Potenza’s Carlo D’Ursi,...
Already a massive period drama proposal from the Latin American producers, the Covid-19 pandemic would have been a much greater threat to production had Potenza not joined.
“This was key because it allowed us to complete our financing structure in spite of the global pandemic,” Storyboard’s Gabriela Sandoval explained to Variety. “Turning this into a feature will involve artistic and technical teams from four countries, and fulfills our original desired production model.”
Following pitching conversations at last year’s San Sebastian, where the film was one of the Co-Production Forum’s big hits, the film’s previously confirmed production team were approached by Potenza’s Carlo D’Ursi,...
- 6/24/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Pamplona, Spain — Conecta Fiction will see producers bring the strongest lineup of Chilean drama series in history. Following, just some of the highlights of projects which will be presented or are moving forward in Chile:
‘Aztec Gangsta Warrior’
Prod: Zona Cinema, Epika Content
Penned by Diego Niño with Francisca Fuenzalida Moure on board to direct, this series follows a rebellious modern-day gang member who learns that he is the descendant of the Aztec dynasty of the Eagle Warriors. Along with the discovery comes a responsibility to discover his worth and fulfill a mystical dynasty.
‘Brave Race’
Prod: Tridi 3D Films, Atomica
Based on reality but written as fiction, “Brave Race” puts under a microscope some of the most passionate fan-bases in all of Latin American soccer: Chile’s Colo Colo, Alianza in Peru, Atlético Nacional de Medellín in Colombia, Chacarita Juniors in Argentina, Flamengo in Brazil and Atlante in Mexico.
‘Aztec Gangsta Warrior’
Prod: Zona Cinema, Epika Content
Penned by Diego Niño with Francisca Fuenzalida Moure on board to direct, this series follows a rebellious modern-day gang member who learns that he is the descendant of the Aztec dynasty of the Eagle Warriors. Along with the discovery comes a responsibility to discover his worth and fulfill a mystical dynasty.
‘Brave Race’
Prod: Tridi 3D Films, Atomica
Based on reality but written as fiction, “Brave Race” puts under a microscope some of the most passionate fan-bases in all of Latin American soccer: Chile’s Colo Colo, Alianza in Peru, Atlético Nacional de Medellín in Colombia, Chacarita Juniors in Argentina, Flamengo in Brazil and Atlante in Mexico.
- 6/18/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Guadalajara, Mexico — This week, Mexico’s Guadalajara Festival will honor Chile as its guest country. That serves as further recognition of an extraordinary 15 years after the so-called Newest Chilean Cinema broke out at 2005’s Valparaíso Festival with Matías Bize, Sebastián Lelio and Alicia Scherson bowing first features.
During that stretch, Chile, just the seventh-largest country in Latin America with an 18 million population, has punched in international terms far above its weight, winning major prizes at Cannes, Sundance, Berlin and Venice, and breaking out to sizable box office on select titles abroad. Last year Sebastian Lelio’s “A Fantastic Woman” won him and producers Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín an Oscar.
Now, however, Chile’s top talent is crossing over into TV, as TV producers return to cinema. The wall between both is fast coming down.
Chile certainly isn’t abandoning cinema. It has six or seven titles which could...
During that stretch, Chile, just the seventh-largest country in Latin America with an 18 million population, has punched in international terms far above its weight, winning major prizes at Cannes, Sundance, Berlin and Venice, and breaking out to sizable box office on select titles abroad. Last year Sebastian Lelio’s “A Fantastic Woman” won him and producers Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín an Oscar.
Now, however, Chile’s top talent is crossing over into TV, as TV producers return to cinema. The wall between both is fast coming down.
Chile certainly isn’t abandoning cinema. It has six or seven titles which could...
- 3/11/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Buenos Aires — Oscar-winning Chilean producer Juan de Dios Larraín (“A Fantastic Woman”), Sebastián Freund, co-creator of Chile’s biggest ever B.O. hit, “Stefan vs. Kramer,” and Gabriela Sandoval, co-director of Sanfic, Chile’s biggest film event, Sanfic festival, are joining forces to haul Chile’s much vaunted cinema into the 21st century.
They will be joined by Sergio Gándara, Chile’s top TV producer, Macarena Cardone, from Invercine&Wood, and Gastón Chedufa, from Las Minas.
A hint of their roadmap looks likely to be heard Wednesday evening at Ventana Sur, when Freund and Sandoval deliver a short speech before a CinemaChile cocktail, traditionally a mid-market social milestone at Latin America’s biggest movie-tv market. If it ain’t broke….? Since a new generation of filmmakers, making up the so-called Newest Chilean Cinema – Sebastián Lelio, Alicia Scherson, Matías Bize – burst onto the scene at the 2005 Valdivia Festival, Chilean filmmakers have won...
They will be joined by Sergio Gándara, Chile’s top TV producer, Macarena Cardone, from Invercine&Wood, and Gastón Chedufa, from Las Minas.
A hint of their roadmap looks likely to be heard Wednesday evening at Ventana Sur, when Freund and Sandoval deliver a short speech before a CinemaChile cocktail, traditionally a mid-market social milestone at Latin America’s biggest movie-tv market. If it ain’t broke….? Since a new generation of filmmakers, making up the so-called Newest Chilean Cinema – Sebastián Lelio, Alicia Scherson, Matías Bize – burst onto the scene at the 2005 Valdivia Festival, Chilean filmmakers have won...
- 12/12/2018
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Santiago, Chile — Chilean director Che Sandoval is best known for his Latin American mumblecore indie films, where he amassed credentials which are on display, this time with a bigger budget and professional actors, in “Dry Martina,” participating in the international competition at this year’s Sanfic Festival in Santiago, Chile.
Martina, a middle-aged singer from Argentina, has lost her mojo, her passion for performing and is losing her father to poor health, and her partner to disinterest. Unable to perform on stage or in the bedroom, Martina is afraid all is lost until one day, an enthusiastic stranger shows up claiming to be her half-sister, along with her boyfriend, who stirs something inside of Martina which sets her on a path of discovery and awakening.
Produced by Chile’s Forastero with Argentina’s Rizoma films co-producing, “Dry Martina” is the director’s third feature following “Much Better Than You,” an...
Martina, a middle-aged singer from Argentina, has lost her mojo, her passion for performing and is losing her father to poor health, and her partner to disinterest. Unable to perform on stage or in the bedroom, Martina is afraid all is lost until one day, an enthusiastic stranger shows up claiming to be her half-sister, along with her boyfriend, who stirs something inside of Martina which sets her on a path of discovery and awakening.
Produced by Chile’s Forastero with Argentina’s Rizoma films co-producing, “Dry Martina” is the director’s third feature following “Much Better Than You,” an...
- 8/21/2018
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Full line-up of the Stockholm film festival includes feature and documentary competition line-ups.Scroll down for full line-up
The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.
The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.
It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.
The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.
Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...
The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.
The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.
It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.
The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.
Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...
- 10/20/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Luis Tosar thriller to open strand; Laurent Cantet to chair jury; programme includes Agnès Varda, Alice Rohrwacher shorts.Scroll down for full line-up
Dani de la Torre’s debut thriller Retribution, starring Luis Tosar, will open the 2015 Venice Days strand, which announced its line-up today.
The Venice Film Festival’s (September 2 - 12) independently run section will host 21 titles including 18 world premieres in its official selection.
The ten-title competition includes Matias Bize’s The Memory of Water, a drama about a young couple trying to rekindle their relationship after the death of their 4-year-old son, Vincenzo Marra’s fourth feature La Prima Luce, which stars Riccardo Scamarcio as an Italian lawyer tracking down his young son in Chile after an acrimonious divorce; Ascanio Celestini’s drama Long Live The Bride, starring Alba Rohrwacher, and Australian director Michael Rowe’s love drama Early Winter, featuring Suzanne Clement.
Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto, Sam Neill and Paul Schneider star in [link...
Dani de la Torre’s debut thriller Retribution, starring Luis Tosar, will open the 2015 Venice Days strand, which announced its line-up today.
The Venice Film Festival’s (September 2 - 12) independently run section will host 21 titles including 18 world premieres in its official selection.
The ten-title competition includes Matias Bize’s The Memory of Water, a drama about a young couple trying to rekindle their relationship after the death of their 4-year-old son, Vincenzo Marra’s fourth feature La Prima Luce, which stars Riccardo Scamarcio as an Italian lawyer tracking down his young son in Chile after an acrimonious divorce; Ascanio Celestini’s drama Long Live The Bride, starring Alba Rohrwacher, and Australian director Michael Rowe’s love drama Early Winter, featuring Suzanne Clement.
Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto, Sam Neill and Paul Schneider star in [link...
- 7/24/2015
- ScreenDaily
German sales outfit acquires Spanish-speaking drama starring Elena Anaya.
Global Screen have picked up worldwide sales rights to The Memory Of Water, the Spanish drama starring Elena Anaya (The Skin I Live In) and Benjamín Vicuña (Herederos De Una Venganza).
The story follows young couple Javier and Amanda, whose relationship is tested after a tragic accident.
The film is directed by Chilean filmmaker Matías Bize, whose 2010 drama The Life Of Fish won him a Goya award for best Spanish language foreign film.
Adrián Solar is producing for Ceneca Producciones. Co-producers are Potenza Producciones, Sudestada Cine and NiKo Film, with support from Caia (Chile), Incaa (Argentina), Icaa (Spain) and Ibermedia.
Global Screen have picked up worldwide sales rights to The Memory Of Water, the Spanish drama starring Elena Anaya (The Skin I Live In) and Benjamín Vicuña (Herederos De Una Venganza).
The story follows young couple Javier and Amanda, whose relationship is tested after a tragic accident.
The film is directed by Chilean filmmaker Matías Bize, whose 2010 drama The Life Of Fish won him a Goya award for best Spanish language foreign film.
Adrián Solar is producing for Ceneca Producciones. Co-producers are Potenza Producciones, Sudestada Cine and NiKo Film, with support from Caia (Chile), Incaa (Argentina), Icaa (Spain) and Ibermedia.
- 7/24/2015
- ScreenDaily
Berlinale Residency, Berlin International Film Festival’s new international fellowship programme, is inviting six filmmakers with their latest projects to Berlin for four months, beginning in September 2012.
The selected participants can finalize their scripts, and develop production and distribution strategies at the Residency. Mentors will advise participants on developing and revising their scripts. In a “Script to Market” seminar with market experts, the producers and directors will explore the audience potential of their works.
The selected projects will be presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 10-12, 2013) and/or at the Guadalajara Ibero-American Co-production Meeting in March 2013.
Selected projects
Matías Bize, Chile: The Memory of Water
Screenwriters: Matías Bize and Julio Rojas
Producers: Adrian Solar, Ceneca Producciones, Chile, and Nicole Gerhards, NiKo Film, Germany
Born in 1979, this director and screenwriter first attracted international attention in 2003 with his feature film debut, Sábado, una película en tiempo real. In 2005 his drama En la cama,...
The selected participants can finalize their scripts, and develop production and distribution strategies at the Residency. Mentors will advise participants on developing and revising their scripts. In a “Script to Market” seminar with market experts, the producers and directors will explore the audience potential of their works.
The selected projects will be presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 10-12, 2013) and/or at the Guadalajara Ibero-American Co-production Meeting in March 2013.
Selected projects
Matías Bize, Chile: The Memory of Water
Screenwriters: Matías Bize and Julio Rojas
Producers: Adrian Solar, Ceneca Producciones, Chile, and Nicole Gerhards, NiKo Film, Germany
Born in 1979, this director and screenwriter first attracted international attention in 2003 with his feature film debut, Sábado, una película en tiempo real. In 2005 his drama En la cama,...
- 6/12/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The Berlinale Festival's new international fellowship program, Berlinale Residency, has announced the six filmmakers who have been invited to work on their new projects in Berlin this fall. Berlinale Residency will help these filmmakers prepare their projects with help from mentors who will offer advice for developing and revising their scripts. The selected projects will be presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market and at the Guadalajara Ibero-American Coproduction Meeting in 2013. The six filmmakers and projects are: Matías Bize, Chile: The Memory of Water Rebecca Daly, Ireland: Mammal Samuel Maoz, Israel: As We Live Raya Martin, Philippines: New Spain Rafi Pitts, Iran: Soy Negro Sacha Polak, Netherlands: Luna “I would like to wish all of the Berlinale Residency participants a highly creative time in Berlin,” said Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. “We hope their films will find...
- 6/11/2012
- by Devin Lee Fuller
- Indiewire
Festivalissimo, the Ibero-Latin-American Film Festival of Montreal just ended the 16th edition, where its artistic programming was being highly praised by thousands of festival-goers. Originating from 12 different countries, the menu offered 27 feature-length films that were all premieres in their own right; 5 North American premieres, 12 Canadian premieres rounded out with 10 never before seen films in Quebec. As with all festivals, they do hand out awards. Here is the list for all the winners from this year’s edition.
Best Male Actor (ex æquo)
Marcelo Alonso – Post Mortem by Pablo Larraín, Chile
Jean Remy Gentil – Jean Gentil by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, Mexico / Dominican Republic
A special mention goes to:
Alberto San Juan – La isla interior by Dunia Ayaso and Félix Sabroso, Spain
Best Female Actor (ex æquo)
Ofelia Medina – Las buenas hierbas by María Novaro, Mexico
Eva Bianco – Los labios by Iván Fund and Santiago Loza, Argentina
A special...
Best Male Actor (ex æquo)
Marcelo Alonso – Post Mortem by Pablo Larraín, Chile
Jean Remy Gentil – Jean Gentil by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, Mexico / Dominican Republic
A special mention goes to:
Alberto San Juan – La isla interior by Dunia Ayaso and Félix Sabroso, Spain
Best Female Actor (ex æquo)
Ofelia Medina – Las buenas hierbas by María Novaro, Mexico
Eva Bianco – Los labios by Iván Fund and Santiago Loza, Argentina
A special...
- 6/8/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Today starts the 16th edition of Ibero-Latin-American Film Festival of Montreal, Festivalissimo, with the Canadian premiere of La Vida De Los Peces (The Life of Fish), by Chilean filmmaker Matías Bize, presented tonight, at Cinema Impérial (1430 de Bleury Street, Montreal).
Right after its opening ceremony, the 16th edition of Festivalissimo will be continuing at Nfb Cinema (1564 St-Denis) with the presentation of major movie premieres of films that have participated to the most important film festivals in the world, such as Cannes, Venice, Locarno, Berlin, Guadalajara and San Sebastián.
During the first days of its new edition, Festivalissimo will therefore host the Canadian premieres of La Mirada Invisible (The Invisible Eye) of Argentinean filmmaker Diego Lerman, presented in 2010 at the Directors Fortnight.
There will also be a screening of Post Mortem, by Pablo Larraín, sacred Best Latin American film at the 2011 Guadalajara Film Festival for its daring and terrifying replay Chilean...
Right after its opening ceremony, the 16th edition of Festivalissimo will be continuing at Nfb Cinema (1564 St-Denis) with the presentation of major movie premieres of films that have participated to the most important film festivals in the world, such as Cannes, Venice, Locarno, Berlin, Guadalajara and San Sebastián.
During the first days of its new edition, Festivalissimo will therefore host the Canadian premieres of La Mirada Invisible (The Invisible Eye) of Argentinean filmmaker Diego Lerman, presented in 2010 at the Directors Fortnight.
There will also be a screening of Post Mortem, by Pablo Larraín, sacred Best Latin American film at the 2011 Guadalajara Film Festival for its daring and terrifying replay Chilean...
- 5/18/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The 16th annual Festivalissimo, the Ibero-Latin-American film festival of Montreal, opens May 18th and runs until June 5 with a selection of thirty films culled from the international festival circuit. The competition for the El Sol prize for best feature film, best actor and actress will open with Matías Bize’s La Vida De Los Peces (The Life of Fish, and closes with Federico Vieroj’s La Vida Util (A Useful Life). In addition to the Official Selection films in competition, Festivalissimo also presents a series of films out of competition which represent Latin-American society of the past and present, and a selection of the most commercially successful films at the Latin American box office.
A few must-see films from this year’s lineup:
La Vida Util (A Useful Life) Federico Vieroj, Uruguay-Spain, 2010
-
Synopsis:
After twenty-five years, Cinemateca Uruguaya’s most devoted employee, Jorge (real-life Uruguayan film critic Jorge Jellinek...
A few must-see films from this year’s lineup:
La Vida Util (A Useful Life) Federico Vieroj, Uruguay-Spain, 2010
-
Synopsis:
After twenty-five years, Cinemateca Uruguaya’s most devoted employee, Jorge (real-life Uruguayan film critic Jorge Jellinek...
- 5/9/2011
- by Lindsay Peters
- SoundOnSight
Director: Matías Bize Writers: Matías Bize, Julio Rojas Starring: Santiago Cabrera, Blanca Lewin Andrés (Santiago Cabrera) is a 30-something Chilean-born travel writer who now finds himself based in Berlin. Back in Santiago after being away for 10 years, Andrés has returned to the city of his youth long enough to take care of some personal business, including dropping by a birthday party. While his friends are all married with children, they attack (if not partially out of jealousy) Andrés’ free-wheeling bachelorhood. A constant analogy that other characters make is that Andrés has lived his entire life like a tourist or day-tripper, never becoming too attached to his surroundings; but other than his career's inherent allusion of freedom, Andrés does not seem too keen on living his life in airports, airplanes and hotels. It soon becomes apparent that Andrés left something -- specifically someone -- behind when he moved away from Santiago 10 years ago.
- 5/3/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
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