Dramas, Docus and the Supernatural Makeup Sanfic Chilean Photos

Chile’s most prominent film event, the Santiago Int’l Film Festival (Sanfic), is celebrating its 20th^e edition with 10 Chilean titles in competition, chosen from a record number of 40 entries this year.

“We normally receive an average of 25 entries each year, from which we select eight to nine titles,” says festival director Carlos Nuñez, who co-founded the festival with Gabriela Sandoval, who heads the industry section.

He attributes this year’s proliferation of films in part to the drive of young, emerging filmmakers to make their mark on the film world. “Most of the directors in our roster are young and making only their first or second films,” Nuñez noted, adding that most of the titles are debut films. This year’s crop has only one female director, but many of the producers behind them are predominantly women, he noted.

Of the ten films, four will have their world premiere, while three will make their Latin American debut and the other three will make their national debut. “We believe this is the crème de la crème of this year’s yield,” Nuñez said.

Many are made possible by co-productions, an important lifeline, from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, the Netherlands and Peru, as well as from private equity investors and state financing.

The 20^e The Sanfic edition runs from August 18 to 25.

An overview of the Chilean line-up:

“Las Cenizas,” (Stjepan Ostoic Papic, Chile)

World premiere. Shot in black and white, Irene’s world collapses when her father suddenly dies in a nursing home. Although everyone insists it was a natural death, she suspects he was murdered. Determined to find out the truth, she starts an investigation, which leads her to revelations about her father’s mysterious past. Ostoic Papic is known for his previous film, the award-winning ‘Antofagasta, New York’ and the short film ‘Ausencia’.

“The fantastic gold harvester” (“La fabulosa máquina de cosechar oro”), (Alfredo Pourailly, Chile, Netherlands)

Pourailly’s feature debut, which had its world premiere at Canada’s Hot Docs, centers on Toto, one of the last remaining artisanal gold miners who is barely 60 but looks much older after decades of searching for gold in the cold and wet Tierra del Fuego. . He feels weak, but cannot stop working. His son Jorge will try to solve this problem by building a gold harvester that will brighten their future. Co-produced by Juntos Films (“Immersion”) and the Dutch Windmill Film. Winner, Best Ibero-American Documentary at the Guadalajara Film Fest in Mexico.

“Aullido de Invierno,” (Matias Rojas Valencia), Chile, Colombia, Argentina

A Latin American debut for the docu-fiction hybrid that focuses on the German Ingrid and the Chilean Franz. They are both survivors of Colonia Dignidad, a sinister post-World War II camp run by a Nazi sympathizer where dissidents were tortured and disappeared. In isolated Patagonia, the couple tries to forget the past. Their story is intertwined with a fictional story about a woman seeking redemption for her connection to the dark history of Chile and Colonia Dignidad. Fact and fiction merge against a backdrop of winter cold. This is Rojas’ debut documentary, best known for his critically acclaimed fiction films ‘Raiz’ and ‘A Place Called Dignity’.

“No estoy en el mar,” (Luis Cifuentes Saravia, Chile, Mexico, Argentina)

The world premiere of Cifuentes’ feature debut centers on young yoga instructor Josefina who moves to the timeless town of San Rosendo in southern Chile to discover the fate of her father, Manuel, whom she has never met. Cifuentes runs ElCineVino, a traveling cinema serving remote areas of Chile.

“Primera Persona”, (Daniel Peralta, Chile)

The Latin American bow for Peralta’s drama, which had its world premiere at the Chicago Latino Film Festival. Julian Cabeza, a reclusive rock musician, suffers blows to his ego and fear of failure, which puts pressure on his twenty-year relationship with Aline. In his cabin on the coast he meets Isabel and Dario, a young couple in conflict. A brief friendship develops as they share their stories of loss and disappointment. Peralta is known for making films on a limited budget, which he calls “garage films.” His credits include the multi-winning dramas ‘Mejor no fumes’, ‘Fiesta falsa’ and ‘Andrés lee i escribe’.

‘Through rocks and clouds’ (‘Raíz’), (Franco García, Chile, Peru)

The second feature film by Peruvian-born Garcia (“Vientos del sur”) that won a special mention in the 74^e Berlinale. Eight-year-old Feliciano herds alpacas in the remote Andes with his alpaca Ronaldo and his dog Rambo. He talks to them about football and the Peruvian national team. However, a mining company threatens their community and uses intimidation to pressure them to sell their land. When Ronaldo disappears, Feliciano searches desperately as his parents and neighbors fight back.

“Sariri,” (Laura Donoso, Chile)

A debut feature that had its world premiere at Cinelatino Toulouse, “Sariri” is Donoso’s graduation project, which she also co-wrote. In a desert mining town under patriarchal rule, Dina, faced with an unwanted pregnancy, plans to escape to the city. However, she cannot abandon her young sister Sariri, who is having her first period.

“Una Luz Negra,” (Alberto Hayden, Chile)

The supernatural pervades Hayden’s feature debut, which centers on Jorge (45), who becomes obsessed when he discovers that he shares a name and a striking physical resemblance with a deceased young man. For Josefina, the young man’s mother, meeting Jorge brings back long-buried memories. World premiere in Bafici, Argentina. Hayden’s work includes the docuseries ‘Random’ and the documentary ‘Pangea’.

“Los Afectos,” (Diego Ayala, Aníbal Jofré, Chile, Ecuador)

World premiere and a buzz title. It is set in Santiago in 2018, at the height of the student demonstrations. Benjamin, the disciplinary counselor of a high school, sees his 16-year-old daughter being brutally attacked by the police. The drama is punctuated by musical set pieces as Benjamin struggles with his grief and the protests continue to grow. This is the second feature from co-directors Ayala and Jofré, whose debut feature “Volantín Cortao” was part of Locarno’s Carte Blanche and premiered at the Rome Film Festival.

‘La Primera Dose’, (Roberto Salinas Vergara, Chile)

World premiere. Salinas’ documentary feature debut is about Daniel, a cocaine addict for 27 years, who shares his story of addiction and crime in an area called ‘the bridge’. We explore the underworld through his eyes and visit places where addicts still live. During these visits, Daniel offers “the first dose,” a gesture that symbolizes his connection to the humanity of those marginalized by society. Salinas’ editing credits include the award-winning short films “Vishitiri” (2018) and “Estrellas del Desierto” (2022).