Santiago Maza’s ‘State of Silence,’ Produced by Diego Luna, Wins Top Award at Sanfic

As a seasoned film aficionado with a soft spot for Latin American cinema, I must say that this year’s SANFIC Industry lineup is nothing short of breathtaking! The diversity and creativity on display are truly a testament to the vibrant filmmaking scene in Ibero-America.

“Santiago Maza’s fourth documentary feature, titled ‘State of Silence,’ earned the prestigious Best Feature Award at this year’s Sanfic Festival in Santiago de Chile. This project is a heartfelt endeavor from producer Diego Luna, who works closely with Gael García Bernal at Mexico-based production company La Corriente del Golfo.”

In addition, the following films received top awards: Agustín Toscano’s “I Trust You,” winning Best Direction in the Sanfic International Competition, and a tie for Best Feature between “Our Memory” by Matías Rojas Valencia and “The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine” by Alfredo Pourally, both in the Sanfic Chilean Film Competition.

The main awards at Sanfic Industria, a lively industry event hosted by Sanfic, were headlined by Caye Casas’ “El Show del Gran Luciferio,” a sequel to “The Coffee Table.” This production was praised by Stephen King as both terrifying and hilariously terrible, drawing comparisons to the darkest imaginings of the Coen Brothers.

“Argentina’s ‘Water Never Hurt,’ directed by Ana Clara Bustelo, and Peru’s ‘Concert for a Single Voice,’ under the guidance of Alejandra Carpio, each claimed victory twice at Sanfic Industria’s Ibero-American Work in Progress, which is the key industry event.”

‘State of Silence’: What Marks It Apart

In my perspective as a movie critic, “State of Silence” is a film that tackles a grim reality – the alarming number of slain and vanished journalists in Mexico. From the year 2000 up until early 2024, a staggering 163 journalists have been brutally murdered, while 32 more remain unaccounted for. This chilling statistic is presented as pre-credits roll in this thought-provoking production.

What makes “State of Silence” unique is its focus on intimate storytelling, as it explores the lives of four journalists who boldly speak out against Mexico’s complex issue, often referred to as narco-politics – a dangerous blend of organized crime syndicates and corrupt local governments.

Two journalists opted for self-imposed exile, while one moved to a new location, and another sent his family to reside with his mother due to concerns about their security. Yet, two of them bravely returned to potentially dangerous areas to carry on their journalistic work.

I’m thrilled to share that my film, “State of Silence,” is set to debut at Tribeca in June. It has also been acquired by Netflix for North and Latin America. Rosa Bosch International is handling international sales. In an exclusive interview with EbMaster, I discussed how we aimed to create a fast-paced narrative through our interviews and strive for a visually stunning cinematic finish that highlights the extraordinary courage of the journalists featured in the film.

The documentary reaches its peak in scenes that showcase the challenges they face, particularly during a press conference where President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, seemingly paranoid, dismisses criticisms about his indifference towards journalists’ safety as mere opinions of paid agents from the opposition party PRI.

Other Prizes: Humanity & Inventiveness

The human-like quality of the documentary’s elements, which made it seem more relatable within its societal setting, was emphasized in “The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine,” as presented by Alfredo Pourally.

For many years, the director traveled to the isolated Tierra del Fuego region before encountering an endearing artisanal gold miner named Toto, whose determined son was single-handedly constructing a gold-retrieving device – a labor of love to aid his ailing father. The heartwarming moments when they successfully activated the machine were priceless.

Sanfic awards additionally highlight the remarkable creativity of filmmakers from Latin America. The film “Our Memory” (“Aullido de invierno”) blends aspect ratios, factual and fictional narratives, and captivating cinematography to narrate a true tale about two individuals who suffered at the hands of neo-Nazi colony Colonia Dignidad, alongside a fictional character portrayed by Paulina García, who seeks redemption for her past actions there.

In the original production of “I Trust You,” a unique blend of real-life events, documentary, fiction, and music come together to explore the case of Susana Acosta and Nélida Fernández, who were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of 45-year-old teacher Angela Beatriz “Betty” Argañaraz in 2006. The format of the film leaves it up to viewers to decide whether they are witnessing a staged theater performance or an actual reenactment, thereby encouraging them to pass judgment on the defendants’ guilt.

New Talent Reigns

Above all, the Sanfic and Sanfic Industria awards serve as a powerful demonstration of the wealth of emerging talent in Latin America and Spain, who continue to make their mark on the film industry. In fact, 11 out of 13 winning films at Sanfic that year were either debut or second fiction, documentary, or solo features. Furthermore, three out of four major winners at Santiago Ibero-American WIP and Santiago Lab Fiction And Documentary were also first-time fiction features.

At the lab, a documentary titled “Southern Channels,” produced by Pilar Higuera from Chile, focuses on young Patagonians who communicate using radios, improvised gadgets, and the soothing sounds of water. This is the second fictional feature film by trailblazing LGBT director from Chile, Wincy Oyarce, titled “The Queer Riots.” It portrays the struggles of homosexuals and transvestites fighting for their lives during the early 1970s in Chile.

The film “Water Never Hurt” portrays a young girl’s defiance against her parents’ rules during her recovery from a horse-riding accident. In contrast, “Concert for a Single Voice,” directed by Carpio for the first time, showcases the personal repercussions of Peru’s armed conflict as a Peruvian architect residing in Paris goes back to Lima to challenge his recently released mother who chose political activism over him. These themes are intricate, according to Carpio, who stated to EbMaster that “No voice holds exclusive claim to truth.”

In Sanfic’s International Competition, Spanish filmmaker Itsaso Arana was given a special mention for best direction in the movie “The Girls Are Alright.” This heartwarming portrayal of female friendship is described as a refreshing summer breeze by EbMaster.

As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase it like this: “Hitchcock’s grand tribute, wrapped in the mystery of noir metaphysics,” is how EbMaster described Tim Kröger’s German work, “The Universal Theory.” Notably, this year at Sanfic, voices from the Spanish-speaking world took center stage.

SANFIC AWARDS, 2024

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Best Performance (ex aequo)

Lorenzo Ferro, (“Simon of the Mountain”)

Franklin Aro, (“The Dog Thief”)

Best Director

Agustín Toscano, (“I Trust You”)

Special Mention

Itsaso Arana (“The Girls are Alright”)

Best Film

“State of Silence,” (Santiago Maza)

Special Mention

“The Universal Theory,” (Timm Kröger)

CHILEAN FILM COMPETITION

Best Performance

Gastón Salgado, (“The Affections”)

Special Mention

Paola Lattus por (“Sariri,” “Las Cenizas”)

Best Director

Roberto Salinas, (“La Primera Dosis”)

Special Mention

Alberto Hayden, (“Una Luz Negra”)

Best Film

Shared by “The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine,” (Alfredo Pourally)

and “Our Memory,” (Matías Rojas Valencia)

Special Mention

“Las Cenizas,” (Stejpan Ostoic)

SANFIC INDUSTRIA , 2024

IBERO-AMERICAN WORK IN PROGRESS

Malaga Work In Progress Award

“Water Never Hurt,” (Ana Clara Bustelo, Argentina, Uruguay)

Yagan Films & Chemistry Award

“The Clearing,” (Maira Carrasco, Chile)

Marketing Movie Runner Award

“Concert for a Single Voice,” (Alejandra Carpio Valdeavellano, Peru)

E-28 Award

“Concert for a Single Voice,”

Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana Award

“Laureano,” (Claudia Ccapatinta, Peru)

LatAm Cinema Award

“Water Never Hurt”

SANTIAGO LAB FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY

SAPCINE Award

“Southern channels,” (Pilar Higuera, Chile)

Atómica Award

“Southern channels,”

Malaga Festival Industry Zone (MAFIZ) Award

“The Queers Riots,” (Wincy Oyarce, Chile)

Festival Intl. de Cine Documental de Buenos Aires (FIDBA) Award

“The Criminal Record of Madame Wittmann,” (Anastasia Benavente, Nicolás Videla, Chile)

Guadalajara Film Festival Co-Production Meeting Industry Award

“Cupid’s Arrow,” (Ernesto Meléndez, Chile)

Cine Qua Non Lab Award

“Arde un reino,” (Catalina Arroyave, Colombia)

Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM) Award

“The Queers Riots,”

Nuevas Miradas – EICTV Award

“The Shorn Sheep,” (Rossana Castillo, Chile)

SANFIC MORBIDO LAB

Morbido Award 30%

“El Show del Gran Luciferio,” (Caye Casas. Mexico, Spain)

Morbido Award 10%

“El Silencio es la Musica del Diablo,” (Cremance, Mexico)

Fantastic Pavilion Award

“El Show del Gran Luciferio,”

“Loved Ones,” (Guillermo Amoedo, Mexico, España)

Lahaye Media Award

“Loved Ones,”

2024-08-25 23:18

Santiago Maza’s ‘State of Silence,’ Produced by Diego Luna, Wins Top Award at Sanfic

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