– Part of Ventana Sur, the 3rd edition of the industry event, organised in partnership with the San Sebastián International Film Festival, aims to build creative bridges between old and new continents
Director György Pálfi, whose new project Hen has been selected
Back for a third consecutive year, Proyecta is showcasing 17 film projects uniting production talent from Europe and Latin America. Organised in conjunction with the San Sebastián International Film Festival, it will take place online from today, 1 December, to Thursday 3 December, as part of the Ventana Sur programme (read more here). Seasoned industry professionals and amateurs alike are sure to find something that sparks their interest, while filmmakers can get to know potential international partners (whether co-producers or sales agents) in a series of virtual networking sessions. Of the selected projects, 11 hail from Latin America, including one from Brazil. Another five have already secured European support; three from the IX Europe-Latin American Co-Production Forum at San Sebastian.
One of the selected projects is Hen (A Tyúk), a drama co-produced by Hungary and Mexico and directed by Gyorgy Pálfi (winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, for Free Fall [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]). The film centres on a free-range hen who longs for a chick but is repeatedly frustrated when the farmer takes away her eggs — so she decides to hide some and hatch them in secret. Through her eyes, we come to understand the tragic life of the man who always thwarts her dreams.
The second European co-production is drama Jardín en llamas, the first feature-length project by Franco-Costa Rican director Valentina Maurel (Lucía in limbo): Eva is up in arms because her mother wants to redecorate the house and turf out the cat which, completely bewildered, is urinating in every corner. Eva would rather go with her father — just as flummoxed as the cat, he’s having something of a mid-life crisis. In the midst of a new life without her father’s constant presence, Eva can do whatever she wants. But she will soon rediscover his secret anger, an anger she has inherited herself.
The third is La anatomía de los caballos, a first foray into fiction filmmaking from Peru’s Daniel Vidal Toche. A co-production between Spain, Peru and Colombia, the film is set in 1781 and follows Ángel as he returns to his Andean village after setting out to join the revolution of Tupac Amaru. Meanwhile, in outer space, a meteorite is heading for the same destination. Back home, Ángel has the impression that time has gone awry: the eighteenth century enmeshes with the present day, when local people are distraught over the disappearance of a young woman. As the search continues, there are those who believe she was crushed by the meteorite.
Another project, Jorge Thielen Armand’s La cercanía, was also selected for the San Sebastián International Film Festival. This time, it’s a joint effort between France and Venezuela. Sofía leaves behind a life of unfulfilled promises in Venezuela so her daughter can get to know her father, Kevin, who lives in France. While she dreams of a happy family life, Kevin has moved on. Sofia, caught up in a manipulative game in Venezuela, feels tormented by her past. She comes up with a secret plan to escape oppression and her own mind: by shedding her former identity, she can start over again and find a place to call home.
Finally, Remanso, directed by Pablo Lamar, is a co-production between Paraguay, Brazil and the Netherlands. Set during the Paraguayan dictatorship, it tells the story of Carmen, whose family have always sided with the regime. Having discovered that young girls are being abused by government agents in a neighbouring house, she decides to report the crime. As a result, she must suffer the wrath of a repressive system.
The full line-up:
Hen (A Tyúk) – Gyorgy Pálfi
Produced by: FocusFox Studio (Hungary), Disruptiva Films and NewArt Digital (Mexico)
Beatriz, la sin ventura – Fernando Martínez
Produced by: La Danta Films, La Casa del Río (Guatemala)
Chicharras – Luna Marán
Produced by: Brujazul (Mexico)
Lonely hearts – Caru Alves de Souza
Produced by: Manjericao Filmes (Brazil)
El hijo de la madre – Claudia Izquierdo
Produced by: Galaxia 311 SAS (Colombia)
El hijo deseado – Ariel Rotter
Produced by: Tarea Fina & Aire Cine (Argentina) and Montelona Cine (Uruguay)
El náufrago – Martín Farina
Produced by: Cinemilagroso and Yaguarete Cine (Argentina)
Espectro – Inés María Barrionuevo
Produced by: Gualicho Cine and Vega Cine (Argentina)
Jardín en llamas – Valentina Maurel
Produced by: Geko Films (France)
La anatomía de los caballos – Daniel Vidal Toche
Produced by: 93 metros (Spain), Suena Perú (Peru) and Los Niños Films (Colombia)
La cercanía – Jorge Thielen Armand
Produced by: In Vivo Films (France)
Matías – Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon
Produced by: Vulcana Cinema and Avante Filmes (Brazil)
We Are Not Dreaming – Ulisses Arthur
Produced by: Céu Vermelho Fogo Filmes (Brazil)
Puán – María Alché and Benjamín Naishtat
Produced by: Pucará Cine (Argentina)
Putas como nosotras – Agustina Comedi
Produced by: Arde Cine (Argentina)
Remanso – Pablo Lamar
Produced by: Sapukai Cine and Sabate Films (Paraguay), Sancho Filmes (Brazil) and Fortuna Films (The Netherlands)
Trucha panza arriba – Sebastián Lojo
Produced by: Cine Concepción (Guatemala) and Manosanta Post (Mexico)
(Translated from Spanish)