San Sebastian Announces WIP Latam Lineup

The 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival has unveiled the Latin American films in its Work in Progress (WIP) Latam section. This year’s selection, announced Wednesday, features stories from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Notably, four of the six entries are directorial debuts or follow-up efforts.

A highlight is The Message by Argentinian filmmaker Iván Fund, who returns to San Sebastian following his previous success with Dusk Stone (2021). This new project, a road movie set in the Argentinian countryside, stars Marcelo Subiotto. Subiotto won the Silver Shell for best lead performance at last year’s San Sebastian festival with Puan.

Uruguayan actor-turned-director Daniel Hendler will also be returning to the festival for the fifth time with his border drama A Loose End. Additionally, Chilean director Nayra Ilic’s coming-of-age story Cuerpo Celeste and Argentinian Paula Morel Kristof’s debut feature Muña Muña are included in the lineup.

Completing the selection are two first-time feature directors: Colombia’s Simón Vélez with Gemstones, a tale centered on gemstone theft, and Costa Rica’s Kim Torres with If We Don’t Burn, How Do We Light up the Night, a chilling narrative set in a rural town.

San Sebastian’s WIP Latam section has proven to be a vital launchpad for Latin American cinema, with recent participants moving on to premiere at major festivals such as Berlin and Cannes. This year’s selected films will compete for the WIP Latam Industry Award, which offers post-production services and Spanish distribution. The EGEDA Platino Industry Award, which includes a €30,000 ($33,000) prize, is also at stake.

Supported by the Ibermedia Programme and various industry partners, this initiative continues to play a critical role in promoting and developing Latin American cinema globally.