Chilean filmmakers and production companies are preparing for a strong representation at the 37th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), taking place from 14 to 24 November, 2024. With selections in multiple categories, Chile’s entries reveal a broad thematic range.

Key Films in Competition

Leading the Chilean slate is The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine, chosen for IDFA’s Best of Fest section. Directed by Alfredo Pourailly de la Plaza and produced by Francisco Hervé, this feature follows the life of Toto, a longtime gold miner in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego. Facing serious health challenges due to his #labour, Toto continues mining without social security benefits, relying on a machine his son invents in an attempt to secure their future.

International Short Film Competition

In the International Short Film Competition, Archipelago of Earthen Bones – To Bunya, directed by Malena Szlam, is set for its European debut. This 16mm short transforms the #Gondwana rainforest into an imagined landscape of layered volcanic scenes, accompanied by a striking soundscape. Also debuting is The Daughter of Both Women, co-directed by Chilean filmmaker Alejandra López Puebla. This film, a collaboration by students from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, tells the story of Iona, a young girl reflecting on her life with two mothers and the impact of her father’s absence, exploring her inner world and search for identity.

Innovations in Immersive Experience

Highlighting the event’s immersive experience category, Ancestral Secret VR, a Chile-Germany co-production by Francisca Silva and María José Díaz, will compete in IDFA’s DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction. The virtual reality work brings viewers into the cosmovision of Peru’s Q’ero community, bridging #Indigenous and modern perspectives in a unique VR environment. The piece symbolises the prophecy of unity between the condor and the eagle, representing Indigenous and globalised worlds.

Industry and Market Engagement

Chile’s involvement also extends to IDFA Forum, the festival’s project pitching platform. Among the projects featured is Burning Daddy, directed by Tana Gilbert and produced by Paola Castillo. This film revisits a family’s turbulent past using personal photos and documents, tracing memories of love and conflict.

Other projects represented in IDFA’s market include environmentally and culturally focused works, such as Thirst and The Letelier File.

The Chilean delegation’s mission is organized by Chiledoc with support from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage. Chiledoc promotes Chile’s documentary sector by creating global networking opportunities and expanding market access for Chilean filmmakers.