Sanfic Industria Signals Shift in Latin American Film Industry

Running from August 18 to 25, the Santiago International Film Festival (Sanfic) marks its 20th edition alongside its industry section, Sanfic Industria, now in its 13th year. This comes at a time of notable growth in Chile and Latin America’s audiovisual sectors.

Sanfic Industria, led by festival co-founder Gabriela Sandoval, aims to support Ibero-American filmmakers by keeping pace with the latest advancements in the entertainment industry.

Now in its third year, Sanfic XR focuses on virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences. Attendees can explore cutting-edge extended reality projects from Chile, international premieres, and works from national and Iberoamerican XR labs. This year, the event expands its venues to include the tech center CRTIC along with Matucana 100.

Highlighted in this segment is “Cerati XR,” an augmented reality experience blending music and animation, featuring surreal landscapes set to songs like “Lisa,” “Corazón Delator,” and “Raíz.”

Another standout is “Ancestral Secret VR,” co-produced by Chile’s Galgo Storytelling and Germany’s NowHere Media. This immersive experience delves into the physical and sacred realms of Peru’s Indigenous Q’eros community. According to Galgo Storytelling producer María José Diaz, it combines Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge technology.

Sanfic Industria also features several key programs including Ibero-American Work in Progress, Santiago LAB fiction and documentary, Series LAB fiction and documentary, Producers Lab, Sanfic-Morbido Lab, and Sanfic Series. Additionally, Sanfic ODS LAB and Sanfic NET: Business Roundtables are also staples of the event.

This year’s Sanfic Series highlights include two documentary series premieres: “Versus” by Mexican director Raúl Cuesta Jiménez, focusing on the challenges faced by tennis player Nicolás Jarry to achieve top world ranking, and “The 43 from Ayotzinapa: A State Crime” from streaming platform Max, which examines the decade-long battle of the parents of 43 disappeared students for justice against the Mexican State.

Gabriela Sandoval spoke to Variety about the Latin American and Chilean film industries as viewed through Sanfic Industria.

Latin American cinema stands out for its audiovisual power and unique storytelling. Despite challenges like unstable conditions and limited state support, local filmmakers produce diverse narratives that address regional social and political issues such as historical memory, human rights, migration, and diversity. The trend is towards storytelling that upholds dignity and respect, while exploring a broader range of genres for global audiences. Co-productions are increasingly vital, especially for countries with limited funding, as newer filmmakers bring fresh narratives to the industry.

Chilean cinema is also flourishing, with more productions gaining international recognition. However, a major challenge remains: low local audience engagement. To combat this, Chile needs public policies that promote national content and ensure its presence in theaters. Additionally, stronger incentives for audiovisual production are necessary to sustain the growth of Chilean cinema.

Chile has seen substantial international success, with over 300 awards in 2023, according to CinemaChile. Productions are increasingly international, involving multiple countries in financing and featuring diverse artistic talents. Platforms like Netflix are backing these projects, extending their global reach. Examples include “El Conde,” an Oscar nominee for best cinematography, and “La Memoria Infinita,” nominated for best documentary. These achievements elevate Chilean cinema and highlight Spanish-language films globally.

The horror/fantasy genre has surged over the past decade, seen across various festivals and platforms, thanks to new creators and producers with fresh approaches. This resurgence has contributed to better circulation and international recognition of genre films. Sanfic-Morbido was born from this context to strengthen the horror/fantasy cinema industry in the region.

This year’s festival, marking its 20th edition, will present the Industria Award to three international guests who have significantly contributed to the Ibero-American audiovisual sector. Honorees include John Hopewell, International Features Editor of Variety, Elena Vilardell, Technical and Executive Secretary of the Ibermedia I Program, and Bina Daigeler, a German costume designer nominated for an Oscar for Disney’s “Mulan” and known for her work with directors like Almodóvar and Jarmusch.

Next year, LatAm Cinema editor Gerardo Michelin would be an ideal recipient.

For the first time, the CAACI (Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities) will join Sanfic Industria, conducting advisory councils and public events on topics such as tax incentives for audiovisual production, the role of the producer, and the importance of gender, cultural diversity, and sexual identity in projects.

In total, 14 public events will be held this year.

Source: Variety