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Sanfic Industria 2024: Emerging Talents, Powerful Portraits of Latin America
Francesc Relea’s “The Last Witness,” Alejandra Carpio’s “Concert for a Single Voice” and Martín Boulocq’s “Criminal Body” are among the features showcased at the expanded Sanfic Industria Ibero-American Work In Progress, a key event at the 20th Santiago International Film Festival in Chile.
This year’s lineup was increased to 10 titles, up from the usual eight. Gabriela Sandoval from Sanfic Industry explained that submissions surged by 50% in 2023. This increase reflects the post-pandemic recovery in Latin American production and the growing prestige of Sanfic Industria.
Sanfic Industrie’s Sanfic Morbido Lab exhibited the rise of genre films across Spain and Latin America, showcasing new projects from Caye Casas and Guillermo Amoedo. The Ibero-American WIP also highlights genre films such as the sci-fi “The Clearing” and the genre-blending “Criminal Body.”
Notably, this year’s entries include works by five women directors, underscoring the progress in gender parity in Latin American filmmaking. Despite challenges, the films focus on women’s experiences and resilience, highlighted in titles like “The Days With Her” and “The Beauty of the Moment.”
Gabriela Sandoval remarked on the filmmakers’ efforts to construct meaningful narratives. “The Days With Her” exemplifies this with its intricate shot compositions and framing, enriching the story’s emotional depth.
Other WIP entries address significant social issues in Latin America, such as neo-colonialism in “Criminal Body,” reconciliation in “Death Brought You Back,” and historical memory in “Will They Ever Come Back?”
The bio-documentary “The Last Witness” profiles Luis Poirot, a renowned photographer who documented significant events from Salvador Allende’s 1970 presidential campaign to the 2019 Estallido. Poirot opens up about his life, including memories of his friend Victor Jara, who was tortured and killed by Pinochet’s security forces.
The 2024 Sanfic Industria Ibero-American WIP Lineup includes:
“The Beauty of the Moment,” (“La Belleza del Instante,” Manuel Berisso, Rodrigo M. Malmsten, Spain, Belgium)
Inés, a painter, discovers she has Huntington’s disease while pregnant. With her relationship with the child’s father over, she finds solace in her friends and art. The film captures her struggle for resilience and passion, anchored by a compelling performance from Moro Anghileri.
“The Clearing,” Maira Carrasco (Chile)
“The Clearing,” produced by Cine UDD, tells the story of a young medical student in Santiago who enters a virtual reality to reunite with his deceased love. Carrasco’s vision combines drama and sci-fi elements in a heartfelt narrative.
“Concert for a Single Voice,” (“Concierto para una sola voz,” Alejandra Carpio Valdeavellano, Peru)
This film follows Nicolás, a Peruvian elite student in Paris, forced to reconnect with his politically active mother in Lima. Carpio Valdeavellano explores themes of human connection beyond ideological differences.
“Criminal Body,” (Martín Boulocq, Bolivia, Argentina, France and Germany)
“Criminal Body” blends horror, documentary, and fiction. Two locals in a Bolivian village are cast by an American film crew, leading to a symbolically charged experience. The film is a collaboration between several international production houses.
“The Days With Her,” (“Los Días con Ella,” Matias Scarvaci, Argentina)
Alejandra, serving a prison sentence, cares for her young daughter until their inevitable separation. The film delves into themes of loss and the search for redemption, with Scarvaci focusing on strong, socially conscious narratives.
“Death Brought You Back,” (“La muerte te vio volver,” Sebastián Cuevas, Chile)
Returning home due to her mother’s illness, Silvia navigates emotional upheaval and reconciliation with estranged family in this moving tale produced by Southern-Chilean Praxia and Santiago-based Mala Films.
“The Last Witness,” (“El Ultimo Testigo,” Francesc Relea, Chile, Spain)
This film features prominent figures like Isabel Allende and Pablo Larraín as it follows photographer Luis Poirot, from historical photos of Salvador Allende to the present, capturing the enduring impact of his work.
“Laureano,” (Claudia Ccapatinta, Peru)
This intimate narrative follows Laureano, an elderly Quechua speaker, as he faces the decision to stay in his village or move to the city after his mother’s death. It explores themes of community and belonging.
“Water Never Hurt,” Ana Clara Bustelo (Argentina, Uruguay)
Produced by Pez Dorado Compañia Creativa and La Mayor, this film tells the story of a young girl who, after an accident, challenges societal views of childhood and autonomy, promoting family dialogue and decision-making.
“Will They Ever Come Back?” (Ángela Carabalí, Colombia)
Angela and her sister search for their father’s Indigenous lands in Colombia, confronting their past and resisting the victim label. Supported by the Sundance Institute, the film has participated in numerous international labs.
The diversity and depth of the featured films at the Sanfic Industria Ibero-American WIP reflect the richness of Latin American cinema and its evolving narratives.
Source: Variety
