April 26, 2022
Chile is back in Cannes and stomping. After a period of severe recession for our sector, Chilean cinema is experiencing a formidable revival.
Two feature films selected in the Directors’ Fortnight: 1976, the long-awaited debut of Manuela Martelli and Pamfir, a Ukrainian feature by Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk co-produced by Chile’s Quijote Films (Giancarlo Nasi). In the Critics’ Week section is the short film The creatures that melt under the sun by Diego Céspedes.
Alongside these promising new directors, Patricio Guzmán’s new documentary, My Imaginary Country, will be premiered at the Special Screenings of the Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival. A film that connects and deepens with the new Chile, from the unique look of the director who a few months ago obtained the Goya Awards with The Cordillera of dreams.
In parallel to the Festival, and after a long period of virtual work, CinemaChile -a sector brand created by Prochile and Apct- will have a massive face-to-face landing at the Marché du Film. With a booth at the Palais des Festivals, CinemaChile will present the new edition of the International Chilean Film Catalogue 2022, in which the film revival of our country takes the form of 115 works (between long and short) of fiction, documentary and animation. These will be the films that will make history during this year, and that will be presented to more than 50 buyers, programmers and international industry agents.
The Chilean presence in the market will also be marked by a documentary showcase at the Doc Corner, in collaboration with Chiledoc; a short film show at the Shortfilm Corner, with the collaboration of ChileShorts and a general delegation of producers that already has more than 35 face-to-face representatives. Among them, 7 with direct support from Mincap through its program of support for participation in international markets (their names will be announced in the coming days).
Patricio Guzmán continues to demonstrate why he is a master of the documentary. With more than 70 awards throughout his career, and having marked a milestone for national cinematography by winning the Goya for Best Ibero-American Film with The Cordillera of Dreams, his career continues to dazzle.
This time, his new documentary, My Imaginary Country will compete in the official Special Screenings Selection, section that qualifies for the award for the best documentary among those selected and where the winning work is also eligible to be nominated to other international competitions, such as the Oscar Awards.
The documentary -which traces the social outbreak that began in October 2019 in Santiago de Chile and culminates with the constituent process that is still ongoing, making history by being the first country in the world to write its new Constitution with a joint and democratic Convention- again gives Guzmán the possibility to return to Cannes, who awarded him in 2019 for his documentary The Cordillera of dreams with the renowned Oeil D’Or for Best Documentary, making him again this year a strong contender as well.
Produced by Alexandra Galvis (Chile) & Renate Sachse (France), the documentary is composed of the new political ways taking place in Chile. A country that, after the social outbreak of 2019, changes its cultural and social composition strongly. Thus, the personal point of view of the outstanding director will be key to understanding these new ways.
“This is a different film because it’s what Patricio saw when he returned to Chile: female voices speaking with urgency, new leadership and a totally different country,” says Alexandra Galvis.
Manuela Martelli’s debut feature has been selected in the prestigious Quinzaine des Réalisateurs section, which will run from 17 to 28 May. This has been the career trampoline of directors such as Pablo Larraín, Michael Haneke, Ken Loach, Spike Lee, among others. Produced by Cinestacion (Omar Zúñiga) and Wood productions (Alejandra García), and with its international sales by the renowned French company led by Fiorella Moretti Luxbox, the film promises a great step forward in the festival, after winning 3 prizes at the Work in Progress section in Toulouse.
Its cast, headed by Aline Kuppenheim, Nicolás Sepúlveda, Hugo Medina and Alejandro Goic, composes this story set in 1976, where its protagonist enters unknown waters, far from the quiet life to which she is accustomed.” I was interested in getting into the domestic space during the time of the dictatorship in Chile, and observing, through the details of everyday life, how what was happening in the public space was perceived,” said the director during an exclusive interview with CinemaChile.
Also competing in the Directors’ Fortnight is Pamfir, the feature debut by Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, co-produced by Chilean director Giancarlo Nasi (Quijote Films).
The Ukrainian feature film delves into the life of a man who, challenged by circumstances, is forced to resign and earn an honest living to help his family.
The Creatures that melt under the Sun, a short film competing in the Critics’ Week section alongside nine other first and second films from around the world.
The 15” minute short is a co-production between Chile (Giancarlo Nasi & Rodrigo Díaz) and France (Damien Megherbi & Justin Pechberty). Directed by Diego Cespedes (The Summer of the Electric Lion, Cinefondation Award, Cannes Film Festival, 2018), the LGTBQl+ science fiction film tells the story of Nataly, a trans woman who visits a mysterious community that melts under the sun. On this journey, she will be reunited with her lover and little daughter.
Its cast, composed by Paula Dinamarca, Rafaella Capote and Daniel Antivilo, is one of the main attractions.
Presskit Chile at Cannes 2022: