The San Sebastian International Film Festival continues its commitment to championing emerging talent from Central and South American cinema with its annual WIP Latam program. Running September 23-25, the high-profile industry event will feature six works in progress transitioning to completion, showcasing the diverse range of genres and stories the region has to offer.
Topping this year’s selection is Iván Fund’s “The Message,” billed as a Spielberg-ian adventure with the gritty soul of Cassavetes. In the Argentine road movie, a young girl and her guardians rely on her unique ability to communicate with animals to survive. Fund, coming off his 2021 Venice and San Sebastian hit “Dusk Stone,” blends sci-fi and character elements.
Also generating buzz is Daniel Hendler’s “A Loose End,” which sees the acclaimed actor make his third turn in the director’s chair. Hendler’s Uruguayan drama follows a low-level cop who flees the Argentine police force for a fresh start, navigating survival and reinvention with the help of local townsfolk as he tries leaving his past behind.
Nayra Ilic delivers a poignant exploration of adolescence and grief in “Cuerpo Celeste.” The director traces a teenager coping after her father’s death while her mother faces her own crisis. Ilic impressed with Sundance drama “Square Meter” and has high hopes for her sophomore feature.
Debuting director Paula Morel Kristof introduces the tender rom-com “Muña Muña,” centering on a nurse embarking on an affair with a French tourist as her son readies for a scholarship. Supported by INCAA funding and a crowdfunding campaign…
The program not only gives these films a platform to gain notice but also offers substantial production grants that will help further Latin American cinema. As always, Festivalgoers can expect powerful, diverse stories reflective of the thriving creative landscape.
