Brazil’s Maya Da-Rin, Argentina’s Julia Rodríguez Win Lucrecia Martel Mentorship From Projeto Paradiso, Fondosa Foundation (EXCLUSIVE)

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In a collaborative effort between Projeto Paradiso and Foundation Fondosa, Brazilian filmmaker Maya Da-Rin (“Canção da Noite” / “Nightsong”), director of “Fever,” Argentine debut director Julia Rodríguez (“Los Zorros Grises”) have been the inaugural recipients of screenwriting mentorship awards.

At Cannes Marché du Film on Wednesday, it was announced that the awards will provide screenwriting mentorship for the upcoming films of Lucrecia Martel, a renowned and influential writer-director from Latin America, who is known for movies like “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama.”

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On Wednesday at Cannes Marché du Film, it was announced that Lucrecia Martel, a prominent and impactful writer-director from Latin America (known for films such as “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama”), will receive screenwriting mentorship for her upcoming projects.

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Lucrecia Martel, a highly respected and influential filmmaker from Latin America with works like “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama” under her belt, was announced at Cannes Marché du Film on Wednesday to receive screenwriting mentorship for her upcoming films.

OR

At the Cannes Marché du Film on Wednesday, it was disclosed that Lucrecia Martel, a highly acclaimed writer-director from Latin America (known for “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama”), will receive screenwriting mentorship for her upcoming projects.

OR

On Wednesday at Cannes Marché du Film, it was revealed that a screenwriting mentorship program has been set up for Lucrecia Martel, one of Latin America’s most esteemed and impactful writer-directors (known for “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama”).

OR

In a recent announcement at Cannes Marché du Film, it was made clear that Lucrecia Martel, a celebrated Latin American filmmaker known for “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama,” will receive screenwriting mentorship for her upcoming films.

OR

It was announced at Cannes Marché du Film on Wednesday that Lucrecia Martel, a highly regarded writer-director from Latin America who has made films such as “The Swamp,” “The Holy Girl,” “The Headless Woman,” and “Zama,” will be given screenwriting mentorship for her upcoming projects.

The awards for various film festivals recognize the directors at different points in their careers. At the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, Da-Rin’s debut fiction feature, “The Fever” (“A Febre”), garnered best actor (Regis Myrupu) and a Fipresci Prize. Subsequently, it was screened at Toronto and won the award for best director at the Chicago Film Festival and Festival do Rio.

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The film festivals’ awards celebrate directors at varying stages of their careers. At the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, Da-Rin’s first fiction feature, “The Fever” (“A Febre”), was honored with best actor (Regis Myrupu) and a Fipresci Prize. Then, it was shown at Toronto and won the best director award at both the Chicago Film Festival and Festival do Rio.

As a cinema enthusiast, I recently found myself captivated by the story of Justino, a member of the Indigenous Desana community who now works as a security guard at Manaus port. EbMaster has aptly described this film as a contemporary fable that delves into themes of modernity and fabrication. It’s an enthralling depiction of a man struggling to navigate the dense urban environment, much like a solitary figure lost in a jungle.

In the 2022 presentation to IFF Rotterdam’s CineMart, director Da-Rin characterized the film as a “sensory and dreamlike exploration,” taking place in an environment blighted by soy monoculture. The narrative revolves around the deepening bond between Helena, a young girl whose parents work in the fields, and Poñy, a solitary Guarani indigenous woman who lives alone.

Obtaining backing from the Hubert Bals Fund, the movie went on to secure the top fiction award at CineMart and receive the Filmmore Prize for post-production services. The film’s producers include Brazil’s Tamanduá Vermelho and Cinemascópio, co-founded by Kleber Mendonça Filho, a competitor in Cannes competition; Portugal’s Uma Pedra no Sapato; and France’s Still Moving.

In a progressively dark yet comical allegory exploring human patience’s boundaries, Rodríguez’s “Los Zorros Grises” unfolds within an affluent enclosed community in Argentina, whereupon a group of gray foxes unexpectedly intrude. These foxes cause chaos by soiling gardens, contaminating items left outside, and potentially posing threats, according to the more apprehensive residents – even endangering pets and infants.

Faced with invaders, the community first argues fiercely during an emergency session meant for devising a plan against the foxes. The escalating discord among its members mirrors the turmoil and tension often associated with the intruding animals themselves.

Rodríguez states that by creating fiction, we can explore together the boundaries we might be willing to push when our personal needs are in jeopardy. He references ‘The Good Boss,’ starring Javier Bardem, directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, as an example of a film that masterfully blends humor with a stark portrayal of human depravity, and also mentions the raw, Argentinian-style storytelling in ‘Wild Tales’ as potential sources of inspiration.

Originating from Buenos Aires and a graduate of ENERC, Argentina’s film school under INCAA where she now instructs screenwriting, Rodríguez has gained experience in scriptwriting for both fictional series and documentaries, working with Netflix, Nickelodeon, domestic channels such as Canal Encuentro and Paka Paka, and Argentine TV Publica.

Rodríguez, born in Buenos Aires and teaching screenwriting at ENERC, has worked on scripting teams for series and documentaries on Netflix, Nickelodeon, and Argentine channels like Canal Encuentro and Paka Paka, as well as Argentina’s TV Publica.

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2025-05-21 11:46