César Charlone , Enrique Fernández
URUGUAY-BRAZIL-FRANCE
2012
97 min.
(Uruguay-Brazil-France, 2005), Enrique Fernández and César Charlone.
In Melo, a miserable Uruguayan town where people scrape by on contraband dealings with the nearby Brazilian border, news of the first visit by a pope to the area has the locals dreaming of becoming rich thanks to the thousands of visitors expected. Following its participation in Films in Progress 8 (San Sebastian, 2005), it was the winner of Films in Progress 9 (Toulouse, 2006), after which it participated in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes Festival and “Horizontes Latinos” at the 55th San Sebastian Festival (2007).
Francisco Vargas
(Mexico, 2005), Francisco Vargas.
The double life of Don Plutarco, his son Genaro and grandson Lucio, poor rural musicians who support the peasant rebel movement to overthrow the tyrannical government. Originally presented as a short in Films in Progress 7 (Toulouse, 2005) and completed as a feature film for the 8th edition (San Sebastian 2005), where it won the Casa de America, CICAE and Signis awards. It went on to participate in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes Festival and in the “Horizontes Latinos” section at the 54th San Sebastian Festival (2006), where it landed a jury mention.
Sebastián Silva
CHILE-MEXICO
2012
90 min.
(Chile, 2008), Sebastián Silva.
Raquel, a servant, has spent more than half her life working for a wealthy family in Santiago and considers her position in the household to be hers and hers alone. One of the big surprises at Films in Progress 14 (San Sebastian, 2008), later screened and presented with awards at numerous international festivals (Sundance, Havana, Guadalajara, Viña del Mar, Huelva, etc.).
Natalia Smirnoff
ARGENTINA-FRANCE
2012
87 min.
(Argentina-France, 2009), Natalia Smirnoff.
Maria del Carmen is a middle-class mother who suddenly discovers her exceptional talent for doing puzzles, opening the door to a whole new world. Casa de America Award at Films in Progress 16 (San Sebastian, 2009), competed in the official selection at the Berlin Festival, at Guadalajara, the BAFICI and in the “Horizontes Latinos” section of the 58th San Sebastian Festival (2010).
Víctor Arregui
(Ecuador, 2002), Víctor Arregui.
Juan, a young boy from a poor family stricken by timidity and unrequited love is driven to crime to fulfil a dream: to leave his country and try his luck in Spain. Industry Award at Films in Progress 2 (San Sebastian, 2002), participated in the Zabaltegi-New Directors competition at the 51st San Sebastian Festival (2003).
María Victoria Menis
ARGENTINA-FRANCE
2003
97 min.
(Argentina, 2003), María Victoria Menis.
Felix starts work on a small farm for a couple who live with their year-old son, Chango. A tense, silent family violence rises to the surface accompanied by a passion born with equal strength. Participant in Films in Progress 4 (2003) and presented in the Official Selection at the 52nd edition of the Festival (2004), where it landed the Arte, Futur Talent Signis and CICAE awards.
Ciro Guerra
(Colombia, 2003), Ciro Guerra.
Mañe has lost a leg. He can’t find a job or pay his rent and has to bear the brunt of his neighbours’ jibes. One day he meets a‘chair man’ who makes a living carrying people on his back. Industry Award and Casa de América Award at Films in Progress 4 (2003). Competitor for the Zabaltegi-New Directors Award at the 52nd San Sebastian Festival in 2004 and at the Toulouse Festival, where it landed the Audience Award.
Marcelo Gomes
(Brazil, 2004), Marcelo Gomes.
A young German boy travels the deserted regions of north-eastern Brazil in the 40s with a load of aspirins to relieve pain and films to light the fantasies of those who approach his truck. Presented in Films in Progress 6 (San Sebastian, 2004) and the following year in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Festival, competitor in the “Horizontes Latinos” section of the 53rd San Sebastian Festival (2005).
Tristán Bauer
ARGENTINA-SPAIN
2004
104 min.
(Argentina, 2004), Tristán Bauer.
Two men among the contingent of troops sent by Argentina’s military dictatorship to recover control of the Falkland Islands meet again twenty years down the line and reminisce on their odyssey. Winner of Films in Progress 6 (San Sebastian, 2004), competitor in the Official Selection at the 53rd San Sebastian Festival (2005), where it won the Special Jury Award, and winner of the Goya for Best Spanish Language Foreign Film in 2006.
Jorge Durán
BRAZIL-SPAIN-CHILE
2005
103 min.
(Brazil, 2005), Jorge Durán.
Close friends Leon, a sociology student, and Paulo, a doctor-to-be, share a room. Meeting the terminally ill Rosalina, the youngsters find themselves thrown head first into the city violence. Industry and Signis Awards at Films in Progress 8 (San Sebastian, 2005), participant in Zabaltegi-New Directors at the 54th San Sebastian Festival (2006).
Ana Katz
ARGENTINA-SPAIN
2006
85 min.
(Argentina, 2006), Ana Katz.
Ines and her boyfriend are on their way to enjoy a short holiday, but he suddenly disappears at one of the bus stops. Now Ines has to spend her days alone while trying to get back the man she loves. Second feature written, directed and starred by Ana Katz, winner of the Industry Award at Films in Progress 10 (San Sebastian, 2006), participated in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Festival in 2007 and opened the “Horizontes Latinos” section at the 55th San Sebastian Festival.
Julio Hernández Cordón
GUATEMALA-SPAIN-USA
2007
75 min.
(Guatemala, 2007), Julio Hernández Cordón.
Every night, three middle-class teenagers leave the safety of their estate for a high-octane joyride on stolen petrol. Industry, CICAE and Casa de America Awards at Films in Progress 12 (San Sebastian, 2007), participated the following year at the Locarno Festival and in the “Horizontes Latinos” section of the 56th San Sebastian Festival, from which it carried off first prize.
Celina Murga
(Argentina, 2007), Celina Murga.
A group of kids and teenagers are left at home alone when their parents go off on summer holidays. Their routine is interrupted with the arrival of the maid’s younger sibling. The second feature from Celina Murga participated in Films in Progress 12 (San Sebastian, 2007) and was selected for Venice Festival in 2008.
Rigoberto Perézcano
MEXICO-SPAIN
2008
95 min.
(Mexico, 2008), Rigoberto Perezcano.
Andres, a peasant from Oaxaca, heads for Tijuana with the intention of illegally crossing the border into the USA. His repeated attempts at crossing are frustrated, but Andres refuses to give up. Winner of Films in Progress 14 (San Sebastian, 2008), TVE Award, Casa de America Award and competitor in the Zabaltegi-New Directors section at the 57th edition of the Festival (2009).
Federico Veiroj
URUGUAY-SPAIN
2009
65 min.
(Uruguay, 2009), Federico Veiroj.
Jorge has worked all his life at the Montevideo film archive. When the institution has to close its doors, he finds himself out of work and has to start a new life. Industry Award at Films in Progress 16 (San Sebastian, 2009), competitor in Zabaltegi-New Directors at the 58th San Sebastian Festival (2010), where he landed a jury special mention. Subsequently won several awards in different international competitions
Niles Atallah
(Chile, 2009), Niles Jamil Atallah.
Portrait of a generation as it struggles to recover from the wounds of the Chilean dictatorship through the story of Lucia, a factory seamstress, and her elderly father. Presented at Films in Progress 16 (San Sebastian, 2009), participated in the Zabaltegi-New Directors competition at the 58th San Sebastian Festival (2010), at the Bratislava Festival and at the Rotterdam Festival in 2011.
Bernardo Arellano
(Mexico, 2010), Bernardo Arellano.
Francisco, autistic, lives with his brother Victor, his sister-in-law Silvia and his nephew Bruno, who treat him more like a servant than a member of the family. Silvia wants rid of him and takes him to live the countryside, where he discovers a whole new world. Winner of the Films in Progress 18 Award (San Sebastian, 2010) and participant in the “Horizontes Latinos” section at the 59th San Sebastian Festival (2011).
Carlos Moreno
(Colombia, 2010), Carlos Moreno.
One morning, Salvador makes his way to work in the fields, only to find them occupied by a pile of bodies. But it’s election time in his town and the authorities want nothing to do with the matter. Following its participation in Films in Progress 18 (San Sebastian, 2010), the film competed in the “Horizontes Latinos” section of the 59th San Sebastian Festival (2011), after having been presented at important festivals including Sundance, Rotterdam and Cartagena de Indias.