At the 41st Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG), Chilean cinema takes center stage as the country is celebrated as the guest of honor. Leading this stellar representation are renowned filmmakers Pablo Larrain, Sebastián Lelio, and Maite Alberdi.
Alexandra Galvis, director and co-founder of CinemaChile, shared with Variety that these filmmakers represent a “golden generation” who have gained international acclaim, including Oscar nominations and victories, while still in their forties. She emphasized that their selection is due to their success in engaging globally, collaborating with platforms like Netflix, yet preserving a unique artistic vision.
These three filmmakers are among ten honorees at the festival, which also features a retrospective of Alejandro Jodorowsky, a significant figure in surrealist cinema whose influence extends across Latin America and beyond.
One of the festival’s highlights is a masterclass featuring Larraín and his producer brother Juan de Dios Larraín, moderated by Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s VP of Latin American Content.
Larraín, known for several Oscar-nominated films, is a prominent voice in contemporary cinema. His notable works include “No,” “The Club,” “Neruda,” “Tony Manero,” and the trilogy “Jackie,” “Spencer,” and “Maria.”
Lelio has gained international recognition for his intimate explorations of identity, highlighted by films such as “Gloria,” the Oscar-winning “A Fantastic Woman,” “Disobedience,” and “The Wave,” which debuted at Cannes.
Alberdi is acclaimed for her sensitive portrayal of everyday life. Her Oscar-nominated documentaries “The Mole Agent” and “The Eternal Memory” have earned her global fame. She recently ventured into fiction with “In Her Place” and unveiled the docu-drama “A Child of My Own” at the Berlinale.
Screenings at the festival include Lelio’s “Gloria,” Larraín’s “The Club,” and four of Alberdi’s documentaries, including “A Child of My Own” set in Mexico. A selection of Chilean shorts, features, and series will also be showcased, with some in competition.
The FICG will feature two episodes of Prime Video’s “The House of the Sprits,” led by Chilean showrunners Francisca Alegría, Fernanda Urrejola, and Andres Wood. This adaptation of Isabel Allende’s renowned debut novel is set for a global premiere on April 29.
Attendees will get a preview of “Raza Brava,” a soccer-themed series by Emmy winner Hernán Caffiero, produced by DeCulto, Atómica, and Erik Barmack’s Wild Sheep Content.
CinemaChile’s Galvis observed that since the country’s previous guest of honor status in 2019, Chilean series have seen significant growth. She noted that “Raza Brava” is particularly timely with the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Daniel Laguna, executive secretary of Chile’s Audiovisual Development Fund, expressed the importance of the cultural dialogue between Chile and Mexico, highlighting their similarities and the creative benefits of collaboration.
A Mexican-Chilean co-production meeting is on the agenda, featuring Caffiero and Mexican producers Edher Campos and Nicolás Celis, alongside Chilean actress Paulina Garcia and Mexican director Iria Gómez.
Gabriela Sandoval of APCT mentioned efforts to rekindle interest in a co-production agreement initially proposed in 2019, aiming for a model similar to agreements with Spain and Uruguay, which include films and series.
Chile’s influence extends to the festival juries, featuring industry figures like García (Premio Mezcal), producer Beatriz Rosselot (Ibero-American Documentary), filmmaker Hugo Covarrubias (Animation), directors Patricio Valladares and Jorge Olguín (Genre Cinema), and Agustín Olivera Sepúlveda from the University of Valparaíso on the youth jury.
