As a fervent admirer of Chilean cinema, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and anticipation as I read about the country being selected as the Venice Production Bridge’s Focus Country for 2025. Having followed the journey of Chilean films for over a decade now, it’s been truly inspiring to see their consistent punch above their weight in the international film scene.
Following a series of recent accolades for Chilean films at the Venice Film Festival, Chile has been chosen as the Spotlight Country for the Venice Production Bridge in 2025.
The announcement regarding the world premiere of Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s film “María,” starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, will be made at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday by Carolina Arredondo, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage from Chile. This groundbreaking movie will debut on Venice’s Lido on that day.
“Arredondo emphasized that this is a substantial accomplishment for our creators, as they’ve discovered Venice to be a vital stage for globalizing their works. By being the ‘Focus Country,’ we can bolster Chile’s audiovisual sector and entice fresh chances for collaboration and worldwide marketing.”
The recognition arrives following a span of over ten years, essentially tracing back to Larraín’s 2012 film “NO,” featuring Gael García Bernal. During this period, Chile has significantly excelled on the global cinema stage. In fact, since 2012, Chilean films have earned the most Academy Award nominations and wins among any South American country – a total of two victories and seven nominations.
Last year, “El Conde” by Larrain won the Best Screenplay award at Venice, but its festival awards since 2021 also highlight that Chile’s film industry is rich with talent beyond well-known directors like Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio, and Maite Alberdi. This includes up-and-coming artists as well.
Last year, Tana Gilbert’s “Malqueridas” won three accolades during the Venice Critics’ Week. Meanwhile, Fernando Guzzoni’s “Blanquita” received the screenplay award in Venice Horizons. In the same competition, “Los Huesos” by León & Cociña was honored with the best short film award in 2021. Moreover, Theo Court’s “White on White” took home the best director prize at Venice Horizons back in 2019.
A modestly-sized nation, Chile typically turned to international co-productions prior to adopting that approach as its preferred one, raking in a $127.3 million box office gross domestically in 2023.
“María” was created by Juan de Dios Larraín, Lorenzo Mieli and Jonas Dornbach for The Apartment, an Italian production company under Fremantle, in collaboration with Fabula (Larraín’s label), Komplizen (Germany) and Fremantle. This project was born from a first-look deal between Fremantle and Fabula. Arredondo described it as an “illustration of cinematic collaboration,” stating that it significantly enhances the global visibility of Chilean cinema.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my home country, Chile, will be making its mark at the esteemed Venice Festival and Production Bridge. This includes “Kill the Jockey,” a film by Argentinian director Luis Ortega, which features Nahuel Perez Biscayart and Úrsula Corberó in leading roles. Interestingly, Chile’s own Mariana di Girolamo, who shone brightly in “Ema,” will also be starring in this production.
Consistently, Chilean collaborative film productions maintain a substantial influence at the Production Bridge. This impact is indicative of a rich variety in genre combinations, as well as directors such as Theo Court who are renowned in Italy, or production companies like 17 Films with extensive experience in co-productions there. According to Alexandra Galvis, general coordinator of CinemaChile, an organization that collaborates with Chile’s Ministry of Culture and ProChile, this collaboration is crucial for maximizing Chile’s visibility at the Venice Film Festival.
This year, the Production Bridge Court will showcase an allegorical murder mystery titled “Three Dark Nights,” featuring Alfredo Castro from Chile’s Quijote Films. Previously at Venice’s Production Bridge, we saw “To Die on Your Feet,” directed by María Paz González.
17 Films, an experienced Chilean production company, brings “Ugly Man,” helmed by Italian director Cosimo Gómez, to the event. Meanwhile, Chilean filmmaker Stjepan Ostoic premieres “Dysphoria,” a movie set in the Chilean desert. Additionally, Clara Films’ Shawn Garry presents “Now They’re Coming For Us,” a film that takes place within a gated community.
Chile’s selection as the Spotlight Nation at the Venice Production Bridge 2025 not just amplifies the international exposure of its film industry, but also stimulates economic growth within the country by attracting investments and fostering cultural tourism, aligning with President Gabriel Boric’s administration’s primary goals.
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2024-08-29 15:17