Every year, the Guadalajara International Film Festival (March 20 – 27), the most important filmic event in Latin America and one of the most relevant on the international circuit, brings together hundreds of directors, producers, actors and actresses from the region and the world. Among its multiple activities, it provides spaces that facilitate the development of diverse projects. Two of those events correspond to Guadalajara Construye and Doculab, platforms that this year will have a Chilean presence.

In its 35 years of life, the Mexican event has strived to create diverse sections that grant help to audiovisual professionals who, for several motives, require support to finish their films. Thus Guadalajara Construye emerged, a space that intends to expedite and economically support films, and that will now be holding its fourteenth edition.

Seeking to contribute to the finalization of Ibero-American feature-length fiction films in post-production, Guadalajara Construye selected seven projects in development. These productions will be presented to various industry professionals such as producers, distributors, sales agents, and festival representatives, among others. One of them is the film Fiebre by Elisa Eliash, produced by La Forma Cine (Peru) and Válvula Films (Chile).

The film focuses its narrative on Nino, a spoiled child who, subjected to a high fever, is absorbed by a mysterious painting. His mother had warned him, and the trick that made him fall prey to the picture has been unleashed. So, Nino does nothing less than lose himself in a labyrinth of images in attempt to return home.

Meanwhile, the documentary laboratory, Doculab, has the objective of encouraging the development of Ibero-American filmmakers and their films in their editing stage, through deep analysis and discussions with experts in the field. Participating there is Arena by Colectivo Tucuquere, produced by Universidad del Desarrollo. As indicated by the Latam Cinema Portal, “The film takes us to the dunes of Concón, where urban growth is eliminating natural spaces irreversibly, and its objective is to raise awareness about the diversity of species in the region and the urgency of controlling irresponsible construction.”