A trio of Chilean filmmakers who have either won or been nominated for Academy Awards are attending the Santiago International Film Festival (Sanfic) together for the first time.
Sebastián Lelio, who clinched a Best International Oscar for his 2017 drama “A Fantastic Woman,” Maite Alberdi, twice nominated for her last two docs “The Mole Agent” and “The Eternal Memory” and Pablo Larrain, whose “No” was shortlisted for Best International Film in 2013, “El Conde” for its cinematography this year and a Best Actress nom for Kristen Stewart in 2021’s “Spencer,” will be honored at the festival’s inauguration August 18 for their extraordinary contributions to Chilean cinema, and indeed, the world’s.
All three have been recognized by some of the most important film festivals worldwide, including Cannes, Venice, San Sebastian and together have amassed accolades from a slew of critics and awards events.
“They represent the Big Three of Chilean cinema, not unlike the Tres Amigos of Mexico: Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu,” said festival director Carlos Nuñez.
Alberdi will stay on at Sanfic to participate in a panel dubbed “Women Directors in Focus” alongside other directors from Latin America on August 20. Her debut fiction film, “El lugar de la otra,” vies for the Golden Shell at the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival (SSIF) in September.
Larrain takes off soon after for the Venice Film Festival to present his latest opus, “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, which competes in the official selection.
Lelio will be editing his latest film, “The Wave” (“La Ola”), a musical drama inspired by the 2018 feminist protests in Santiago, during the festival week.
Behind many of the biggest hits from Chile is Fabula, Larrain’s production company that he co-founded with his brother Juan de Dios Larrain, that has produced Alberdi’s “El lugar de la otra” and “The Eternal Memory” as it has Lelio’s earlier films, including “A Fantastic Woman” and most lately, “The Wave.”
Sanfic will be presenting the trio’s most iconic films that played at Sanfic in a retrospective celebrating 20 years of Chilean cinema. This includes Larraín’s “Tony Manero,” which won Best Film in the international competition at Sanfic in 2008. Also featured: Alberdi’s “La Once,” which won Best Chilean Film and Best Director at the 10th edition of Sanfic in 2014 and Lelio’s “Navidad,” winner of a special jury mention at Sanfic 5 in 2009.
The 20th Sanfic runs Aug. 18-25.
