February 7, 2022
Chile arrives at the Berlinale with a large number of participants! Two films will be premiering in the official selection, one is Jerónimo Rodriguez’s The Veteran, competing in the Forum section, and Alis, a co-production between Chile, Colombia, Denmark and Romania in the Generation 14+ section, produced by Alexandra Galvis (Market Chile). In turn, in the Talents section is selected distributor Sebastián Avilés (Storyboard Media) where 200 professionals from different parts of the world will take part.
The European Film Market (EFM) will be attended by an official delegation supported by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, with 4 producers in the online version, who compose a mosaic of diversity, talent and creativity, with different approaches and styles; all looking for alliances to achieve the development and completion of their projects, tracing the future of Chilean cinema and series in fiction, documentary and animation.
As for the Market Screenings, we will have 7 films, among which are Phantom Project, the new film by Roberto Doveris, recently premiered in the Tiger Competition in Rotterdam 2022 and The Cow that sang a song into the future, by Francisca Alegría, which recently had its world premiere at Sundance.
The second feature by director Jerónimo Rodríguez (El rastreador de estatuas, 2015) will have its world premiere in the Forum section, a parallel space specialized in the most radical and experimental cinema shaped this year by an exclusive selection of 27 feature films from 19 countries around the world.
Jerónimo Rodríguez
The veteran is a documentary-essay that follows the trail of a supposed American priest who lives on the coast of Talca (Chile) and who would have been in charge of the release of the atomic bomb of Hiroshima.
The 103”’ minute film, which in the words of its director “seeks to be a reflection on spaces, with a strong essayistic documentary base and a lot of fiction,” Rodriguez affirms. Produced by Cine Portable and co-produced by Araucaria Cine, the film will be screened at the Berlinale on February 15 (Cubix 2); 16 (Delphi Filmpalast); 17 (Kino Arsenal 1); 18 (Werkstattkino@silent green) and 20 (Cubix 7).
Alis, selected in the Generation 14+ competition that focuses on films for a young audience (over 14 onwards) with epic narratives that explore the lives and worlds of children and adolescents, and that on this occasion will bring to the big screen a moving narrative: a group of teenagers -girls who lived in the streets of Bogotá- perform the exercise of closing their eyes and imagining Alis, a fictional companion, thus revealing an amazing perseverance to break the cycle of violence and embrace a better future. All under the premise of the film that seeks to answer “How to project your destiny when you are born without opportunities?”.
Alexandra Galvis
Facing this question, the Chilean producer of the film, Alexandra Galvis, responds: “The best achievement has been that this story of girls in an institution can become a universal story of resilience and perseverance. In addition, I think it contributes to portray female stories from another perspective, without victimizing them and understanding that they are capable of articulating the best possible future”.
The 84’ minute documentary is a co-production between Chile (PantallaCines), Colombia (Casa Tarántulas), Denmark (Burma VJ) and Romania (DeFilme), which will also be distributed worldwide by Latido Films. The documentary, directed by Clare Weiskopf and Nicolas van Hemelryck, is already preparing its world premiere for 15 February during the Berlinale.
A strong delegation of twelve national professionals will participate in the audiovisual market, which will be held virtually between 10 and 17 February, and where each professional will look to expand their networks and promote their new projects in development.
In addition, the market will be the first big showcase of the year for the four producers who, on this occasion, have the support of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage (MINCAP) with the goal of promoting the work of the Chilean audiovisual industry in the European Film Market, being carried out in virtual mode due to the conditions imposed by the pandemic in Germany.
“Making visible the work of the professionals of the national audiovisual sector remains one of our priorities, and in that sense Germany is an ally that interests us in particular, for what it means for the industry and for the way we are advanced. In 2020 Chile was the County of focus during the European Film Market, a unique opportunity for producers, distributors, investors and local creators to present themselves to the world film industry. Last December also saw the entry into force of the film co-production agreement between the two countries, which also means a grand number of benefits. Chilean cinema has long crossed borders and the Ministry of Cultures will continue to support it, “said the Minister of Cultures, Consuelo Valdés.
Producers Giancarlo Nasi (Don Quijote Films), María Elena Wood (María Wood Producciones), Maximiliano Scheleff (Pajareza Films) and Daniela Raviola (Juntos Films) compose a mosaic of diversity, talent and creativity, with different approaches and styles; all in search of alliances to achieve the development and completion of their projects, tracing the future of Chilean cinema and series in fiction, documentary and animation.
Also, the ProChile sector brand, CinemaChile will be participating with a virtual stand in the market, where producers will meet with their international peers. “This virtual space will serve for producers to come together to look for alliances to achieve the development and completion of their projects mapping the future of Chilean cinema and series in one of the most important markets of cinema worldwide,” says Constanza Arena, Executive Director of CinemaChile.
Jorge O’Ryan, General Director of ProChile, points out that being back at EFM and Berlinale demonstrates the importance that the audiovisual sector has acquired internationally and the contribution that this means to the country’s image. “This year there are two films in competition, so this space is a great incentive and a key factor in the internationalization of Chilean cinema, achieving recognition worldwide and also the realization of multiple businesses,” he added.
Eight Chilean films will have market screenings during this edition of the European Film Market:
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