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The Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic), a cornerstone of Chilean cinematic celebration, is poised to elevate its commitment to fantastic and genre filmmaking with a series of significant new initiatives for its upcoming seventh edition, running from November 2nd to 6th. This year’s festival will not only mark the seventh iteration of its specialized Sanfic-Morbido Lab but will also launch a groundbreaking WomanInFan Southern Cone partnership with the esteemed Sitges Film Festival, and introduce a crucial new pix-in-post section, aptly named Fantastic WIP. These developments signal a robust expansion of Sanfic’s industry arm, Sanfic Industria, solidifying its position as a vital hub for the development and promotion of genre cinema in Latin America and beyond.
Seven years ago, the Sanfic-Morbido Lab emerged as a bold experiment, a dedicated space for the often-underrepresented realm of fantastic cinema within the broader festival landscape. Today, it stands as one of the region’s most consistent and influential conduits for genre filmmaking, a testament to its vision and execution. The lab’s core mission remains to nurture and develop six promising genre film projects from across Latin America each year. These selected projects undergo an intensive development process, benefiting from personalized mentoring from industry luminaries. Chief among these is Pablo Guisa Koestinger, CEO of Grupo Mòrbido and executive director of the prestigious Fantastic Pavilion at the Marché du Film, Cannes Film Festival. His guidance and expertise are instrumental in shaping these nascent projects into viable, market-ready films.
The Sanfic-Morbido Lab’s impact is further amplified by the array of awards it offers, providing tangible support for the winning projects. The coveted Premio Mòrbido, for instance, offers co-financing of up to 20% of a film’s final budget, a critical injection of funds that can make the difference between a project remaining a dream and becoming a reality. Equally significant is the Premio Fantastic Pavilion, which guarantees participation in the highly influential Fantastic Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, opening doors to global markets and exposure.
Pablo Guisa Koestinger, a driving force behind the lab’s success, expressed his satisfaction with its evolution. "Seven years of the Sanfic-Mòrbido Lab is not just a number – it’s a proof of concept," he stated. "The talent was always there. What didn’t exist was the pipeline. We built it, and now it works." This sentiment underscores the lab’s crucial role in bridging the gap between raw creative potential and the established industry infrastructure. His vision extends beyond mere project development, encompassing a broader ecosystem for genre cinema.
Guisa further elaborated on the significance of the new initiatives: "WomanInFan Latam recognizes what we already know: the women making genre cinema in our region are some of its most powerful voices. And the Fantastic WIP closes the loop – because making a great film is only half the job. Getting it finished, getting it out, getting it to the world – that’s the other half. Everything we build here has one destination: The Fantastic Pavilion, and from there, the world." This statement highlights a dual focus on empowering underrepresented voices and ensuring that completed films find their audience.
The introduction of Fantastic WIP directly addresses a persistent challenge in filmmaking: the post-production phase. Many promising projects, having successfully navigated development and production, falter due to a lack of support in bringing them to completion. Fantastic WIP aims to rectify this by providing a platform for these films in post-production to connect with key industry players. Filmmakers will present their work to international sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, and other industry professionals, seeking invaluable feedback and, crucially, potential distribution deals. This section is designed to be a vital bridge, ensuring that films that have overcome the initial hurdles of creation can successfully reach their intended audiences.
The WomanInFan Southern Cone initiative represents a significant expansion of a global movement dedicated to championing women in fantastic cinema. This new regional extension is a collaborative effort with the Sitges Film Festival, a globally recognized leader in the genre, and is spearheaded by the pioneering WomanInFan program created by Sitges, led by Mónica GarcÃa Massagué. WomanInFan, at its core, is designed to identify, support, and promote female talent in a field historically dominated by men. The Southern Cone iteration opens its first call for projects specifically from women directors based in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. This strategic focus on the Southern Cone region aims to amplify the voices of female filmmakers within this particular geographical and cultural context.
This Southern Cone initiative is a direct extension of the broader WomanInFan LatAm pan-regional program, which was unveiled at the Costa Rica Media Market in July. By establishing a dedicated presence in the Southern Cone, Sanfic and Sitges are bringing the program’s structured activities, including intensive mentoring sessions, directly to filmmakers in the region. These sessions culminate in final pitches delivered before a panel of industry professionals during Sanfic, offering a concentrated opportunity for exposure and connection.
Gabriela Sandoval, the director of Sanfic Industria, articulated the festival’s enhanced commitment to genre cinema. "With WomanInFan Southern Cone and Fantastic WIP, we are expanding our commitment to genre cinema, which we have been advancing for seven editions through the Sanfic-Mòrbido Lab," she stated. This statement emphasizes that these new initiatives are not replacements but rather strategic augmentations of Sanfic’s existing strengths. The seven-year track record of the Sanfic-Mòrbido Lab provides a solid foundation upon which these new programs can build.
Sandoval further expressed her enthusiasm for the expanded collaborations. "We are delighted to strengthen this partnership with Sitges and Grupo Mòrbido – two leading forces in genre cinema worldwide – and to establish WomanInFan Southern Cone as a platform that connects the extraordinary women’s voices emerging from our region with the partners and markets that can amplify their stories and help bring them to international audiences." This highlights the synergistic nature of the partnerships, leveraging the established reputations and networks of Sitges and Grupo Mòrbido to benefit Latin American talent. The focus on "extraordinary women’s voices" underscores a commitment to diversity and inclusion, recognizing the unique perspectives and contributions that women bring to the genre.
The expansion of Sanfic’s industry offerings reflects a growing global recognition of the artistic merit and commercial viability of fantastic and genre cinema. These films, often characterized by their imaginative storytelling, innovative visual effects, and ability to explore complex themes through allegorical frameworks, have a dedicated and growing international fanbase. By investing in the development, completion, and promotion of these films, Sanfic is not only supporting individual filmmakers but also contributing to the overall health and dynamism of the global genre film ecosystem.
The Sanfic-Morbido Lab’s consistent success over seven years has demonstrably proven the existence of a vibrant and talented pool of genre filmmakers in Latin America. However, the challenge has always been the lack of a robust and accessible pipeline to connect these talents with the necessary resources and industry support. The lab, in partnership with Grupo Mòrbido, has effectively constructed this pipeline, fostering a supportive environment for creative growth.
The introduction of WomanInFan Southern Cone further addresses a critical need for greater representation and support for women in the genre. Historically, women have been underrepresented in directing, writing, and producing roles within fantastic cinema. By creating dedicated programs and fostering collaborative networks, Sanfic and Sitges are actively working to dismantle these barriers and ensure that female perspectives are not only heard but amplified. The focus on the Southern Cone specifically targets a region with a rich cultural tapestry and a growing number of talented female filmmakers whose work deserves wider recognition.
Fantastic WIP, as a complementary initiative, recognizes that the journey of a film does not end with the completion of principal photography. The post-production phase is often a bottleneck, demanding specialized skills, technical resources, and significant financial investment. By providing a dedicated platform for films in this crucial stage, Sanfic is offering a vital lifeline, ensuring that promising projects have the opportunity to reach their full potential and connect with the global marketplace. This proactive approach to supporting filmmakers throughout their entire creative process is a hallmark of a forward-thinking film festival.
The convergence of these initiatives at Sanfic signifies a strategic and comprehensive approach to nurturing genre cinema. The festival is not merely showcasing films; it is actively participating in their creation, development, and dissemination. This holistic model, supported by strong international partnerships, positions Sanfic as a critical player in the global landscape of fantastic film. The commitment to empowering diverse voices, particularly women, and ensuring the successful completion and distribution of genre films underscores Sanfic’s dedication to fostering a more inclusive and dynamic cinematic future. The success of these new programs will undoubtedly reverberate throughout the Latin American film industry and beyond, solidifying Sanfic’s reputation as a vital incubator for genre filmmaking.
