Chilean science fiction series ‘La Isla’ starts in October

“La Isla,” a sci-fi thriller series presented last year at the Sanfic Series Lab, Conecta Fiction and Iberseries, will begin principal photography in October.

Daniela Ramírez, internationally nominated for an Emmy for her performance in HBO Max’s three-part limited series “Isabel: The Intimate Story of Isabel Allende,” will star opposite Néstor Cantillana (“NO”).

Written by Felipe Carmona (“Prison in the Andes”), the six-part series focuses on a tenacious detective (Ramírez) who returns to her hometown in the enigmatic Chiloé archipelago to investigate the disappearance of a Mexican archeology student.

There she must determine whether the case is a kidnapping or, against all logic, connected to the mythical Friendship Island. Reports indicate that numerous disappearances, unexplained healings and alien activity have occurred there, the synopsis said.

“We want to tell a story that explores global issues such as imagining life beyond Earth, the end of a cycle in humanity with the rise of artificial intelligence, while also integrating the rich cultural identity and mythology unique to South -Chile,” said producer/showrunner Pablo Díaz del Rio from Rio Estudios, Chile.

Rodrigo Susarte (“Gen Mishima,” “Invunche”) takes over directing duties from Claudia Huaiquimilla, who resigned due to scheduling conflicts.

Susarte said: “We are at the beginning of the end of the world; society is broken and there is no point of return. Established values ​​are crumbling, making it virtually impossible to distinguish between good and evil in today’s society. This framework seems to me to be fundamental in creating such a specific universe as ‘La Isla.’”

“Subverting the genre, articulating new universes necessary to expand the narrative logic that exists in our film industry today. The theme of metamorphosis and transformation is central to my artistic vision. I am attracted to the idea of ​​showing extreme physical and psychological changes as a metaphor for personal and collective evolution,” he said, adding: “In ‘La Isla’ this journey allows us, through a episodic structure, to explore these points. The universality of loss and the fear of the unknown are also important topics in the story, transforming into possible stories within the logic of science fiction. This motivates me to create a unique universe in which the imaginative space can be reinterpreted, giving this series a distinctive quality for films made in the Southern Cone.”

Principal photography begins on October 21 in Chile’s Los Ríos region.

Rio Estudios is looking for a Mexican co-producer for season 2, which will likely be set in Mexico. According to Díaz, there is a similar mysterious island in Mexico called Isla Vermeja.

Backed by state agencies CNTV and Corfo, the series is co-produced by Filmo Estudios, the Santiago-based post-production/VFX house behind such gems as Pablo Larrain’s ‘El Conde’ and Maite Alberdi’s Oscar-nominated ‘The Eternal Memory’. and upcoming fiction debut, “El lugar de la otra.”

“As this is a sci-fi thriller with a lot of VFX, Filmo Estudios plays a crucial role in the aesthetics and story of the series,” said Díaz.

Miami-based MGE, run by Esperanza Garay, will handle distribution.