As a seasoned film enthusiast who’s traversed the globe to uncover the best cinematic gems, I must say that the emergence of 500 Cinema, under the leadership of Florencia Larrea, is a breath of fresh air. Hailing from Chile, a country known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, this all-female production company based in Viña del Mar promises to bring innovative genre cinema that challenges conventional norms.
As a dedicated advocate for Chilean cinema, I, Florencia Larrea, have ventured into uncharted territories by establishing 500 Cinema – an innovative, all-female production company nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Viña del Mar. My partners and I firmly believe that Chile’s breathtaking landscapes deserve more than just Santiago as its cinematic epicenter. In my own words, our beautiful country is too vast and varied to be confined to a single city.
500 Cinema functions as the movie-making division of 500 Nanometers, a cutting-edge media company established by Antonia Valenzuela and Valentina Ripamonti, who prioritize innovation.
Following my departure from Forastero, I began working as the creative director at 500 Nanómetros, a pioneering company known for its extensive background in advanced media and groundbreaking immersive projects. Antonia and Valentina recognized potential in the kind of cinema I had been producing, providing an opportunity to further explore inventive storytelling. I found their expertise in project development and management appealing, as well as their professionalism and shared vision for a new creative journey. Therefore, it was only logical for me to present my portfolio, and they, in turn, offered their skills. Larrea also appreciated that 500 Nanómetros is led by women, which he found refreshing.
Surprisingly, a significant number of women work as producers in South America, countering the region’s traditionally misogynistic culture. The #metoo movement has played a role in this shift, empowering women to enter and thrive in fields that were once predominantly male-dominated. Today, we see an increasing presence of female directors, writers, cinematographers, and more in roles such as art, sound design, and editing.
500 Cinema is focusing on genre films that push the boundaries of technical and storytelling norms. Kicking things off is “Summer Hit” (“El Tema del Verano”), a zombie film by Uruguayan director Pablo Stoll, which will have its world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival. The trailer for this film will first be shown exclusively on EbMaster. Next up in 2023 is “Invunche.
The film titled “Summer Hit” has been chosen to be the main attraction for the much-anticipated Zombie Walk, Sitges’ famous zombie street procession. This movie will also be shown in the Midnight X-Treme section of this highly regarded Spanish genre festival. Notably, this is Stoll’s third feature film as a sole director following successful projects like “25 Watts” and “Whisky,” which he jointly directed with Juan Pablo Rebella.
Known as an “unusual tale that combines elements of romantic comedy, heist movies, and zombie thriller set against the backdrop of sunny Uruguay,” “Summer Blockbuster” chronicles the story of Felipe and Ana. After being in a pandemic lockdown for a year and a half, they find themselves on a beach. Among her companions Malú and Martina, Ana is a petty criminal who uses charm to lure wealthy men, slips them drugs, and robs them.
This upcoming post-pandemic summer, they’ve devised their most ambitious scheme: burglarizing Ramiro Tübingen, a flamboyant millionaire and supporter of amateur artists. At Tübingen’s estate, they run into Tito, the property owner, and his artist tenants. However, their plot unravels when they inadvertently cause the deaths of their targets instead of rendering them unconscious. The synopsis continues: “If only the deceased could remain dead, but this summer, the departed refuse to stay so.
Stoll revealed that the idea for “Summer Hit” originated several years ago during a conversation about cinema in a Santiago bar with Florencia Larrea. He recalled discussing a story about some girls who rob on beaches and unintentionally find themselves amidst a zombie-infested scenario. Despite taking longer than anticipated, here we are now, many years later, having produced the summer zombie film they had envisioned.
He shared with EbMaster that the first video he watched at home was a zombie movie, and since then, it’s been his dream to produce one. However, unlike some directors who start their careers with zombies, he initially dabbled in other areas before creating four films, and only later did the idea for a zombie film strike him.
Speaking about genre films, it’s important to remember they’re the ones we were introduced to during our childhood, watched on children’s TV, at matinees, and on VHS as teenagers. The concept of creating a zombie film takes me back to my very first VHS movie: ‘Virus,’ directed by Bruno Mattei under the alias Vincent Dawn. This Italian film, also known as ‘Hell of the Living Dead,’ is an English-language production filled with gore and suspense that kept me up for several nights.
The principal actors in this production are Azul Fernández (from “Merlí Sapere Aude”), Malena Villa (“El Ángel” and “Débora Nishimoto (“Pr1nc3s4”), Sebastian Iturria (“El Año de la Furia”), and Agustín Silva (“La Nana”). Additionally, the Uruguayan actor-director Daniel Hendler makes a special appearance. The Uruguayan filmmaker who won the Berlin Silver Bear, Daniel Hendler, is presenting his third directorial venture, “A Loose End,” at San Sebastian’s WIP Latam.
Summer Hit” is a joint production by 500 Cinema, Stoll’s Temperamento Films, and Nadador Cine from Uruguay, spearheaded by Pedro Barcia and Juan José López, who are recognized for their films such as “The Employer and the Employee,” which represented Uruguay at the 2022 Oscars, and Celina Murga’s “The Freshly Cut Grass,” showcased this year at the Tribeca Film Festival and boasting Martin Scorsese as an executive producer.
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2024-10-05 21:17