The Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic) concluded its festival and industry sections on Nov. 8, marked by a somber atmosphere following the unexpected demise of Chilean Oscar-winning director Sebastián Lelio on Nov. 6. Festival director Carlos Nuñez and Sanfic Industria head Gabriela Sandoval, both described as visibly bereft, stated that the red carpet portions of the ceremonies held on Nov. 6 and 7 were cancelled. Nuñez said the festival is dedicating the remainder of the event to Lelio, noting that while his films remain his legacy, his passing is "incredibly painful" due to his close ties to the festival since its inception.
Lelio’s family announced that the Cineteca Nacional (National Film Library) would be open this weekend for those wishing to pay their respects. The festival also saw real-life protests as students, demonstrating against President Kast’s budget cuts and calling for the resignation of Justice Minister Fernando Rabat, were met with tear gas as they exited a university.
In the festival's competition, the Best Picture award was granted to the documentary "Monguen" by the late Antonio Caro, who also died suddenly while working on the film. Caro's producer took over the project. Nuñez told Variety that the film is a "well-deserved recognition" for its exploration of Mapuche culture and the culture of southern Chile.
The Best Chilean Director honor went to Thomas Woodroffe for his debut feature "Erratics" ("Bloques erráticos"), which features French actor Denis Lavant. Nuñez described Woodroffe as a director to watch with a "compelling" approach to cinema. During the ceremony, Paulina Garcia, who won Best Actress for "Love is the Monster," paid tribute to Lelio while displaying her Berlin Silver Bear for his 2013 drama "Gloria."
For the international competition, Marcelo Martinessi’s historical drama "Narciso" won Best Feature. The film, based on a novel by Guido Rodríguez Alcalá, depicts a Paraguayan LGBT rock star who is found dead at the peak of his career. Nuñez called Martinessi one of Paraguay's "most compelling voices" and stated the award was "thoroughly deserved." Ariel Amor’s "Reina de Puerto" won Best Short from a field of 21 contenders.
The festival reported a 10%-15% uptick in attendance, with final figures estimated between 35,000 and 40,000. Nuñez described the week as "very lively" with "packed cinemas."
Sanfic Industria also announced several awards. "Hot Springs," the debut feature of Armin Marchesini Weihmuller, swept three prizes in the WIP Iberoamericana section, including the only cash prize. Yull Núñez’s "The Cry of Serankwa" also received three awards in kind. In the Mórbido Lab honors, "Tonalli" received a co-production prize, while "The Hostess" and "L4IK4" were also recognized.
During the event, Spain’s Alex de la Iglesia discussed his absurdist comedy "The Misunderstanding," which he will begin filming in Santiago on Nov. 9. He credited Sanfic for making the shoot possible. In a popular panel, Pablo Guisa of Grupo Mórbido, Mónica García of Sitges Film Fest, and Arizbeth Becerril of Docs Mx discussed the balance between art and commerce, with Guisa stating he is "not interested in being a cultural travel agent" and Becerril noting that filmmakers "don’t have a fucking clue" what streaming algorithms want.
Cineplex boarded two projects at the Sanfic Industria section: "La Residencia" by Mariel García Spooner and "The Cry of Serankwa" by Yull Nuñez.
