Most of the projects we find listed in the annual selections for the San Sebastian Co-Production Forum are at the very least two, mostly three to four plus years away from a production start date but there is nonetheless plenty to get excited about with the 2024 group of fourteen projects. Comprised of a mix of mostly established filmmakers, we have a favorite with her genre offerings in Brazilian filmmaker Gabriela Amaral Almeida — her new film is influenced by David Cronenberg and Douglas Sirk and is called She, Crocodile. Neighboring Argentina is well rerpested this year — having just premiered his last feature (Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed) in the Directors’ Fortnight last May, Hernan Rosselli’s latest is titled Hard-Boiled School tells the tale of real-life legendary thief Pedro Palomar. Also from Argentina, recent Golden Bear short winner in Francisco Lezama is setting up Los dos paisajes (The Two Landscapes). Moving north, editor turned filmmaker Natalia López Gallardo follows up Robe of Gems with a sophomore feature called Solo el Amor Existe – the project has Mexico, U.S. and France coin. Also from Mexico, the Sundance-winning tandem for Sujo in Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez are looking to portray the experiences of three people at the edge of a cataclysm in Mexico City with Rambler. Here is the article describing the projects by the Variety folks —
Animales de Desierto – Santiago Loza (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)
“Set up at Argentina’s Murillo Cine, another departure for Loza who broke out with Rotterdam Tiger winning “Strange” admired for the Rotterdam Tiger-winning “Strange” (2003) and “4 Women, Barefoot” (2005) before hitting a home-run with Cannes 2010 Un Certain Regard player “The Lips.” Here, in the immensity of the desert, in a precolonial past, Nube, Ari, Valen and Lara walk dragging a wagon, to execute a revenge, according to a Murillo description.”
Otro jardín – Mariana Gil Ríos (Colombia, France)
“With short “Uli,” Gil Ríos took a special mention at the Berlinale’s Generation Kplus this year. Produced by Daniela Echeverri at Medellín’s Movimiento Cine, in co-production France, the story focuses on 8-year-old Amanda. Spending holidays at her enigmatic grandfather’s home, she meets Miguel, a wild boy living in the garden, with whom he will discover hidden truths about his family.”
Los Erizos – Victoria Galardi (Argentina, Uruguay)
“Separating after 10 years of marriage, a couple takes a final seaside holiday with their young son. Galardi co-writes with Fabian Casas; Argentina’s Juan Pablo Miller, a Cannes Camera d’Or winner at Tarea Fina, and Uruguay’s director-producer Federico Veiroj (“The Moneychanger”) produce – a powerful combination. Pic will show “how painful it is to separate, how long it takes to unravel the bond that joins two people for years,” Galardi promises.”
La escuela pesada – Hernán Rosselli (Argentina, Austria, Uruguay, Brazil, Portugal, France, Chile, Peru)
A man is released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery and discovers that he is now responsible for the daughter of a former partner. Through the meticulous planning and execution of a bank robbery played out by a gang of retired thieves, “Hard-Boiled School,” reconstructs the life and work of real-life legendary heist maestro Pedro Palomar. Rosselli’s follow-up to well-received “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed.”
La Levedad de Ella – Rosa María Rodríguez Pupo (Cuba, Mexico, Colombia)
“A standout at this week’s Locarno Open Doors. When her cancer returns, Nora (Lola Amores, “Wild Woman”), distances herself from her family, goes to live in an impoverished neighborhood and determines to decide her own destiny. Produced by a pedigreed trio – Armando Capó, Cristina Gallego and Martha Orozco – the first feature of a figure on the cutting-edge of Cuban cinema, mixing gender point and building intimate fantasy.”
Mar de Leva – Mariana Saffon (Colombia, France)
“Elena prepares for the imminent death of her father and faces a desire she had never thought of having: that of becoming a mother. The debut of Saffon, whose “Between You and Milagros” snagged best short film at the 2020 Venice Orizzonti. Rated director-producer Franco Lolli (“Gente de bien,” “Litigante”) and Capucine Mahé at Colombia’s Evidencia Films lead produce.”
Rambler – Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez (Mexico)
“After scooping the Sundance Dramatic World Cinema Grand Jury Prize with drug cartels drama “Sujo” – going global via multiple distribution deals inked by Alpha Violet – the hit Mexican duo is developing “Rambler,” portraying the experiences of three people at the edge of a cataclysm in Mexico City. Produced by the duo’s label Corpulenta and Enaguas Cine, the project has received grants from Mexico’s Sistema Nacional de Creadores.”
Remanso – Pablo Lamar (Paraguay, Brasil, Uruguay, France)
“A story set during the dictatorship of Stroessner in Paraguay, following Carmen, a woman who discovers a girl was raped and murdered in the neighboring house of an influential military officer. Lamar (“Noche adentro,” “Oigo tu grito”) produces alongside Gabriela Sabaté (“Paraguyan Hammock”), this broad co-production alliance weighs in a five-way co-pro, usually an auspicious sign in a Latin American production.”
She, Crocodile – Gabriela Amaral Almeida (Brazil, Portugal)
“Starring Bianca Comparato (“Avenida Brasil”), a young and sole heiress of a luxury real estate brokerage in Rio de Janeiro gradually transforms into a hungry and deadly crocodile. “‘She, Crocodile’ arose from my need to portray violence from the perspective of capitalism and women’s issues. The film is my declaration of love for body horror, David Cronenberg and Douglas Sirk. Blood, guts and heart,’” says director Amaral. Comparato produces with Yana Chang; Alice Braga and Amaral executive produce.”
Solo el Amor Existe – Natalia López Gallardo (México, U.S., France)
“Following on “Robe of Gems,” a Berlin Silver Bear Jury Prize winner which also won best director at Morelia, the second feature from celebrated Mexican-Bolivian editor López Gallardo, head of Mexican post facility Splendor Omdia. Produced by Lobo en Medio de Lobos.”
El espíritu de la ley – Natalia Meta (Argentina)
“Seen at Cinemart 2024, and produced by two Argentine prestige players, both behind “Zama,” Picnic Productions making “Las Acacias” and Rei Pictures “The Settlers.” Meta’s follow-up to Berlin competition entry “The Intruder,” here a congresswoman at the peak of her career, advocates for the approval of a crucial law she has fought for her entire life. Then she receives an accusation leading her to reconsider the true spirit of her political calling.”
La Mujer Extraña – Martin Boulocq (Bolivia, Uruguay)
“During the lithium war in a future Bolivia, a Quechua teenager decides to become a surrogate to escape poverty, facing her mother’s fury and unleashing a family conflict in the midst of social turbulence, the synopsis runs. With neo-colonialism critique “Criminal Body” unspooling at Sanfic’s WIP, Boulocq’s second feature nailing global forces shaping Bolivia and the world, with Latin American powerhouse Cimarrón on board as co-producers with CQ Films.”
Malestar Tropical – Jorge Cadena (Switzerland, France)
“A group of queer activists team with indigenous communities near Colombia’s largest open-cast coal mine. Co-writers include Jacques Toulemonde, co-scribe in Ciro Guerra’s “El abrazo de la serpiente,” and the Colombian-born and Swiss-trained Cadena, whose short “Flores del Otro Patio” won a Special Jury Award at 2023’s SXSW Film Festival. Lead produced by Gabriela Bussmann and Yan Decoppet at Geneva-based GoldenEggProduction.”
Los dos paisajes – Francisco Lezama (Argentina, Brazil)
“During an institutional crisis within the Catholic Church due to Catholics converting to Evangelism, Mercedes, a devout sixty-year-old Catholic, is obliged to host the late tenant’s girlfriend and unrecognized daughter in her home. Produced by Pioneer Cine, developing projects from Lezama and Ignacio Ceroi, a “melancholic comedy” about religious and family tensions, says Lezama.”
