Intimate Queer Coming of Age Stories, Sci-Fi and the Supernatural: Ventana Sur’s Punto Genero Lineup
“The Marriage,” the feature-length fiction debut from Brazilian documentary filmmaker Maíra Bühler (“Let It Burn”), and a pair of intimate and revelatory queer films “The Way You See Me,” and buzz-title “Diamond,” backed by Argentina’s Maravilla Cine (“That Weekend”), are among the selections set for Ventana Sur’s 2022 Punto Genero Pitching Sessions.
They’re joined by mystical, lore-centered projects like Julia Rotundi’s “A Woman Gazed At The Night Sky,” sci-fi-laced “I’ve Held This Sadness For So Long That My Chest Will Explode,” by Mexico’s Nicolasa Ruiz Mendoza and dystopian thriller, “Kill To Marilyn,” by Chilean director Alejandra Gonzalez Painemal.
In keeping with tradition, this year’s films push boundaries, set to pull in viewers from varied demographics, shining a light on Latin American cinema, spanning the whole of the continent and centering communities whose narratives discuss wholly human issues with passion and textured perspectives.
“We care about equity,...
They’re joined by mystical, lore-centered projects like Julia Rotundi’s “A Woman Gazed At The Night Sky,” sci-fi-laced “I’ve Held This Sadness For So Long That My Chest Will Explode,” by Mexico’s Nicolasa Ruiz Mendoza and dystopian thriller, “Kill To Marilyn,” by Chilean director Alejandra Gonzalez Painemal.
In keeping with tradition, this year’s films push boundaries, set to pull in viewers from varied demographics, shining a light on Latin American cinema, spanning the whole of the continent and centering communities whose narratives discuss wholly human issues with passion and textured perspectives.
“We care about equity,...
- 11/14/2022
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
Chile’s foremost industry forum Sanfic Industria wrapped Friday Aug. 19 with a wealth of prizes doled out to projects from across Latin America and Spain.
Still reeling from the pandemic, the forum’s 11th year saw another hybrid edition but a definite upsurge in attendance. The various sections included Wip Ibero-American, Santiago Lab: Fiction and Documentary, Sanfic-Mórbido Lab, Sanfic Series and the new space created for female producers, Productoras Lab.
Most telling, a number of projects from small countries and by women directors as well as upcoming new talent triumphed at the forum this year.
Bolivian drama “Diamond,” the feature debut of Yashira Jordan that follows an Indigenous trap-singing teen as she searches for her estranged father, took home the most prizes in the Santiago Lab Fiction section, with three honors, including the Bdc Co-Production award.
Guatemala’s “Kicks of Soil” by Indigenous filmmaker Leyzer Chiquin and Chilean Constanza Figari’s second feature,...
Still reeling from the pandemic, the forum’s 11th year saw another hybrid edition but a definite upsurge in attendance. The various sections included Wip Ibero-American, Santiago Lab: Fiction and Documentary, Sanfic-Mórbido Lab, Sanfic Series and the new space created for female producers, Productoras Lab.
Most telling, a number of projects from small countries and by women directors as well as upcoming new talent triumphed at the forum this year.
Bolivian drama “Diamond,” the feature debut of Yashira Jordan that follows an Indigenous trap-singing teen as she searches for her estranged father, took home the most prizes in the Santiago Lab Fiction section, with three honors, including the Bdc Co-Production award.
Guatemala’s “Kicks of Soil” by Indigenous filmmaker Leyzer Chiquin and Chilean Constanza Figari’s second feature,...
- 8/20/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Following a vibrant 2022 edition in a three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean which she oversaw in an interim capacity, Zsuzsi Bánkuti has been appointed the new head of Locarno’s Open Doors.
She replaces long-time Open Doors chief Sophie Bourdon, who stepped down earlier this year.
The key to this year’s Open Doors was its inspired choice of a focus on smaller territories in Latin America which are often home to first-class directors – one director this year, Dominican Yanillys Pérez scooped a Discovery Award at the Toronto Festival with her doc-feature “Jeffrey,” for example – but, apart from the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, lack robust state subsidy systems enabling producers to produce movies easily out of their own countries.
The obvious solution is international co-production. Tailor-made to advance this, Open Doors offers producers and directors networking opportunities and targeted training as well as a showcase for...
She replaces long-time Open Doors chief Sophie Bourdon, who stepped down earlier this year.
The key to this year’s Open Doors was its inspired choice of a focus on smaller territories in Latin America which are often home to first-class directors – one director this year, Dominican Yanillys Pérez scooped a Discovery Award at the Toronto Festival with her doc-feature “Jeffrey,” for example – but, apart from the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, lack robust state subsidy systems enabling producers to produce movies easily out of their own countries.
The obvious solution is international co-production. Tailor-made to advance this, Open Doors offers producers and directors networking opportunities and targeted training as well as a showcase for...
- 8/13/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Zsuzsi Bánkuti Appointed Head Of Locarno’s Open Doors
Zsuzsi Bánkuti has been appointed as the new head of the Locarno Film Festival’s project and talent incubator Open Doors. The 20-year industry initiative runs during the festival and supports filmmakers in regions where producing independent movies is particularly challenging. It has just entered a three-year cycle focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. Bánkuti oversaw the 2022 edition (August 5-9) in an interim capacity following the departure of long-time Open Doors head Sophie Bourdon earlier this year. “I am looking forward to discovering and developing new talents from this amazing and vibrant region and even more to do so in a festival that feels like home,” said Bánkuti. The industry veteran began her career as head of acquisitions for Cirko Film in Budapest in 2000, before heading to Germany’s The Match Factory in the same role in 2012. She first joined...
Zsuzsi Bánkuti has been appointed as the new head of the Locarno Film Festival’s project and talent incubator Open Doors. The 20-year industry initiative runs during the festival and supports filmmakers in regions where producing independent movies is particularly challenging. It has just entered a three-year cycle focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. Bánkuti oversaw the 2022 edition (August 5-9) in an interim capacity following the departure of long-time Open Doors head Sophie Bourdon earlier this year. “I am looking forward to discovering and developing new talents from this amazing and vibrant region and even more to do so in a festival that feels like home,” said Bánkuti. The industry veteran began her career as head of acquisitions for Cirko Film in Budapest in 2000, before heading to Germany’s The Match Factory in the same role in 2012. She first joined...
- 8/12/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Film projects from Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are among the winners of this year’s Open Doors Awards at the Locarno International Film Festival. Open Doors, which celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Swiss festival this year, supports projects from regions with less-developed film industries with the aim of promoting greater diversity on the international scene.
For its anniversary edition, Open Doors launched a three-year focus, from 2022 to 2024, dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, and hosted several projects from the regions — fiction, documentaries and animated films — in its selection this year.
Moa, a feature project from Cuban director Marcel Beltrán won the top prize, which is an Open Doors grant of 36,500 (Chf 35,000) to go towards development and production. Moa is being produced by Paula Gastaud of Cuba’s Mediocielo Films. The project also won the Arte Kino International prize, awarded by the French-German public broadcaster,...
Film projects from Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia are among the winners of this year’s Open Doors Awards at the Locarno International Film Festival. Open Doors, which celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Swiss festival this year, supports projects from regions with less-developed film industries with the aim of promoting greater diversity on the international scene.
For its anniversary edition, Open Doors launched a three-year focus, from 2022 to 2024, dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, and hosted several projects from the regions — fiction, documentaries and animated films — in its selection this year.
Moa, a feature project from Cuban director Marcel Beltrán won the top prize, which is an Open Doors grant of 36,500 (Chf 35,000) to go towards development and production. Moa is being produced by Paula Gastaud of Cuba’s Mediocielo Films. The project also won the Arte Kino International prize, awarded by the French-German public broadcaster,...
- 8/9/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Inspired by director Marcel Beltrán’s walking on a dry, polluted lake in his hometown, Moa, in Cuba, “Moa” won the biggest prize on offer at this year’s Open Doors, a Locarno Fest co-production and talent hub dedicated, in an inspired choice, to smaller territories in Latin American and countries in the Caribbean. The focus lasts three-years, over 2022-24.
The territories boast world class filmmakers with urgent stories to tell. Equally it is distinguished by fragile or non-existent state support in most places, with exceptions such as Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
“Moa” took the biggest cash prize on offer, a CH35,000 Open Doors grant from Swiss production support fund Visions Sud Est and the City of Bellinzona.
“Kids Swimming in the Lake,” from Venezuela’s Michael Labarca, snagged the second biggest plaudit, a CH15,000 Open Doors grant. Bolivia’s Yashira Jordan’s “Diamond,” won an €8,000 development grant, adjudicated...
The territories boast world class filmmakers with urgent stories to tell. Equally it is distinguished by fragile or non-existent state support in most places, with exceptions such as Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
“Moa” took the biggest cash prize on offer, a CH35,000 Open Doors grant from Swiss production support fund Visions Sud Est and the City of Bellinzona.
“Kids Swimming in the Lake,” from Venezuela’s Michael Labarca, snagged the second biggest plaudit, a CH15,000 Open Doors grant. Bolivia’s Yashira Jordan’s “Diamond,” won an €8,000 development grant, adjudicated...
- 8/9/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmakers Marcel Beltrán, Yashira Jordán and Michael Labarca among prize-winners at Latin American and Caribbean focused event.
Filmmakers from Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela were among the big winners at the 20th anniversary edition of Locarno’s Open Doors.
The festival’s Open Doors programme champions filmmaking from regions where independent cinema is especially challenging, and this year’s event focused on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Marcel Beltrán, one of Cuba’s most promising filmmakers, received two awards for his debut fiction feature Moa.
The story of a couple’s relationship being tested when they find themselves on different sides...
Filmmakers from Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela were among the big winners at the 20th anniversary edition of Locarno’s Open Doors.
The festival’s Open Doors programme champions filmmaking from regions where independent cinema is especially challenging, and this year’s event focused on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Marcel Beltrán, one of Cuba’s most promising filmmakers, received two awards for his debut fiction feature Moa.
The story of a couple’s relationship being tested when they find themselves on different sides...
- 8/9/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Modern-day production in Argentina lifted off from its new Argentine Cinema, born over 1991-95, in Brazil with Walter Salles’ 1998 “Central Station,” in Mexico from Carlos Reygadas’ 2002 “Japón.”
Now, Latin America is seeing second-phase expansion based out of smaller markets, driven by the energies of forward-thinking production companies determined to not just build slates but their national film industries.
In line with the massive new talent focus of many of Locarno’s industry programs – this year’s Germany First Look with five feature debuts, the Match Me! emerging producer springboard – Open Doors will focus on Latin America’s most under-represented territories and the Caribbean, where production companies have sprung up after national cinema lift-off in more major countries in the region.
Bolivia’s Empatía Cinema, for example, was founded in 2007, but most key companies at Locarno launched significantly later: Ypr Films in 2010, La Linterna Films in 2011, Paraguay’s Asociación Cultural Arraigo...
Now, Latin America is seeing second-phase expansion based out of smaller markets, driven by the energies of forward-thinking production companies determined to not just build slates but their national film industries.
In line with the massive new talent focus of many of Locarno’s industry programs – this year’s Germany First Look with five feature debuts, the Match Me! emerging producer springboard – Open Doors will focus on Latin America’s most under-represented territories and the Caribbean, where production companies have sprung up after national cinema lift-off in more major countries in the region.
Bolivia’s Empatía Cinema, for example, was founded in 2007, but most key companies at Locarno launched significantly later: Ypr Films in 2010, La Linterna Films in 2011, Paraguay’s Asociación Cultural Arraigo...
- 8/1/2022
- by John Hopewell and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Buenos Aires-based Maravilla Cine, producer of 2018 Berlin Panorama player “Marilyn” and San Sebastian 2020 New Directors’ hit “That Weekend,” has boarded “Diamond” (“Diamante”), the first fiction feature from Bolivia’s Yashira Jordán which is shaping up as one of the standout titles at this year’s Locarno Open Doors.
Maravilla Cine joins “Diamond” lead producer Empatia Cinema, rapidly consolidating as a production hub for Bolivian auteurs. Recent credits include Martín Boulocq’s “The Visitor” which premiered at June’s Tribeca Festival and Alejandro Quiroga’s Western “Los de abajo,” a Sanfic Industria pix-in-post winner in March 2021.
Empatia Cinema and Maravilla Cine have jointly applied for a development grant from the Ibermedia regional film fund for Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The incentives will be announced in late November, said Empatia’s Alvaro Olmos Torrico.
“Diamond” taps into two trends powering ever more of the best cinema coming out of Spain and...
Maravilla Cine joins “Diamond” lead producer Empatia Cinema, rapidly consolidating as a production hub for Bolivian auteurs. Recent credits include Martín Boulocq’s “The Visitor” which premiered at June’s Tribeca Festival and Alejandro Quiroga’s Western “Los de abajo,” a Sanfic Industria pix-in-post winner in March 2021.
Empatia Cinema and Maravilla Cine have jointly applied for a development grant from the Ibermedia regional film fund for Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The incentives will be announced in late November, said Empatia’s Alvaro Olmos Torrico.
“Diamond” taps into two trends powering ever more of the best cinema coming out of Spain and...
- 8/1/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Chile’s Santiago Lab, the Santiago Film Festival’s industry initiative to support Ibero-American projects in development, has selected 28 titles, 14 fiction and 14 documentaries, culled out of hundreds of entries from across Latin America and Spain.
Some of the titles were picked from other festivals’ industry events such as “Diamante,” from Malaga’s Mafiz; Constanza Figari’s “A Woman Wants to Die,” which Sanfic awarded at Industria Guadalajara this year, along with “Mc Silencio,” a Colombian production from Medellin, an emerging audiovisual hub in Colombia, said Sanfic Industry head and festival co-founder, Gabriela Sandoval.
The same goes for some of the documentaries such as “The Silence of a Patio” a gripping documentary about the dark history of the Casa de la Beneficencia of Castellón, Spain which was presented at Doc Valencia. Docu “Bloques Erraticos” is the first full-length feature doc of Thomas Woodroffe whose acclaimed shorts include “Austral Fever” and “Holding Desire.
Some of the titles were picked from other festivals’ industry events such as “Diamante,” from Malaga’s Mafiz; Constanza Figari’s “A Woman Wants to Die,” which Sanfic awarded at Industria Guadalajara this year, along with “Mc Silencio,” a Colombian production from Medellin, an emerging audiovisual hub in Colombia, said Sanfic Industry head and festival co-founder, Gabriela Sandoval.
The same goes for some of the documentaries such as “The Silence of a Patio” a gripping documentary about the dark history of the Casa de la Beneficencia of Castellón, Spain which was presented at Doc Valencia. Docu “Bloques Erraticos” is the first full-length feature doc of Thomas Woodroffe whose acclaimed shorts include “Austral Fever” and “Holding Desire.
- 7/29/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Unspooling March 21-25, the Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event project (Maff) provides a forum for Latin American film projects to seek international production partnerships. Costa Rican productions will be highlighted by subsection Costa Rica Guest Country.
The socially impactful film “Silence of the Earth” will feature in the Maff Social subsection. Female directors earn special emphasis in the Women Screen Industry section.
Following, the profiles of Maff production.
“All My Journey Are Journeys of Return,”
A time-jumping, genre-blending “delirious adventure,” say its makers, from Los Niños Films and Vorágine, currently in production on the World Cinema Fund-backed “Carropasajero.” It depicts a journey which begins in the Rio Magdalena, in the early 19th century, during a search for poet Gaspar de la Noche, who has gone missing in northern Sweden. Carolina Zarate produces.
“Before the Memory,”
Shepherded by Agustina Chiarino, one of Uruguay’s most ambitious film producers, González’s...
The socially impactful film “Silence of the Earth” will feature in the Maff Social subsection. Female directors earn special emphasis in the Women Screen Industry section.
Following, the profiles of Maff production.
“All My Journey Are Journeys of Return,”
A time-jumping, genre-blending “delirious adventure,” say its makers, from Los Niños Films and Vorágine, currently in production on the World Cinema Fund-backed “Carropasajero.” It depicts a journey which begins in the Rio Magdalena, in the early 19th century, during a search for poet Gaspar de la Noche, who has gone missing in northern Sweden. Carolina Zarate produces.
“Before the Memory,”
Shepherded by Agustina Chiarino, one of Uruguay’s most ambitious film producers, González’s...
- 3/21/2022
- by John Hopewell, Emilio Mayorga and Justin Morgan
- Variety Film + TV
Benjamín Mirguet’s “Alfredo Larón,” Niles Atallah’s “Celestial Twins” and Silvina Schnicer’s “The Cottage” feature among 16 projects to be presented at Ventana Sur’s 4th Proyecta co-production forum, a wide-ranging showcase of emerging auteurs and new talents to track from Latin America and Europe.
“Alfredo Larón,” for example, marks the feature debut of Mirguet, the editor of Carlos Reygadas’ “Battle in Heaven,” and also a former Cannes Directors’ Fortnight programmer. Its action takes in a 17-year-old Larón syndrome sufferer’s battle for legal compensation from the Ecuador government and, in a turn of fortune, his happy high-school days in Germany.
Atallah caught attention with “Lucia” at San Sebastián’s 2009 Films In Progress, but all the more for 2017 Rotterdam Tiger Award Special Mention winner “Rey,” edited, as it happens, by Mirguet. A vision of the delirious Orllie-Antoine de Tonnens, who proclaimed himself King of Patagonia in 1860, “Rey” was shot...
“Alfredo Larón,” for example, marks the feature debut of Mirguet, the editor of Carlos Reygadas’ “Battle in Heaven,” and also a former Cannes Directors’ Fortnight programmer. Its action takes in a 17-year-old Larón syndrome sufferer’s battle for legal compensation from the Ecuador government and, in a turn of fortune, his happy high-school days in Germany.
Atallah caught attention with “Lucia” at San Sebastián’s 2009 Films In Progress, but all the more for 2017 Rotterdam Tiger Award Special Mention winner “Rey,” edited, as it happens, by Mirguet. A vision of the delirious Orllie-Antoine de Tonnens, who proclaimed himself King of Patagonia in 1860, “Rey” was shot...
- 11/22/2021
- by John Hopewell and Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
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